Associated factors affecting the quality of life of opioid addicts in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu

Nurulhuda, Mat Hassan and Husbani, Mohd Amin Rebuan and Norwati, Daud (2017) Associated factors affecting the quality of life of opioid addicts in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology, 10 (12). pp. 7-8. ISSN 0974-3618

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Abstract

Opioid dependence results in social and health problems such as unemployment, crimes, family disruption, and transmission of diseases. It also affects the quality of life of those involved. This study aims to determine the associated factors affecting the quality of life (QOL) of opioid addicts in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu. This crosssectional study was done from June until July 2016. All opioid addicts receiving therapy in primary care therapy centers in Kuala Nerus district, Terengganu, Malaysia who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. The World Health Organization Quality of Life brief version(WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire measuring the physical health, psychological health, social and environment domains were routinely used to assess the addicts during first enrolment to the therapy. The respondent WHOQOL-BREF scoring and other related data obtained by interviewer guided questionnaire were collected. Sociodemographic factors and addiction factors such as duration of heroin addiction, severity of addiction and comorbidities were analyzed using multiple linear regression in SPSS version 22 software with WHOQOL-BREF score as the dependent variable. All respondents were males of Malay race. Mean age was 36.2 years old. Only 57 (47.2%) out of 122 respondents had WHOQOL-BREF score recorded in their case records. The mean(SD) QOL score was 80.9 (13.74). The significant factors affecting QOL was the duration of heroin addiction (p=0.013) and average daily heroine (p =0.44), where addicts who had a duration of heroin addiction more than 5 years and average daily spending of more than RM100 for heroin had a significantly worse quality of life compared to those addicts with duration of 5 years or less and spent less than RM100. Further efforts should be taken to recruit opioid addicts into early therapy before they had a prolonged duration and more severe heroin addiction in order to help them have a better quality of life.

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