Table 2 Definitions of outcomes in opioid substitution investigations
Outcome | Definition | Measurement of variable (units) | Statistical estimates and measurement of association of this outcome | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Continued illicit drug abuse | Abstaining from illicit opioid use throughout treatment. | -Urine toxicology screening | OR, rate ratio | |
-Self-reported drug use | Â | |||
Retention in treatment | Proportion or participants completing treatment and days in treatment from beginning of the study until the last day of therapy. | -Number of days patient remains in treatment (days) | Comparing means (SD), HR, adjusted HR using Cox model, rate ratio, Kaplan-Meier estimator | |
Adverse events | Reaction to drugs and/or change in health status during course of therapy. | -Interviews | t-test | |
-Physical examination | ||||
-Randomly recorded at visits | ||||
-Total number of adverse events per day |