Problem drinking: The role of readiness to change and other patient factors in the prediction of dropout from treatment

The study examines the predictive role of readiness to change, demographic, socioeconomic, personal history and drinking factors in dropout from treatment for problem drinking. For the purposes of the study, 'dropout' refers to non-completion of treatment regardless of the reasons for such termination. The study was conducted at an alcohol treatment centre in Cape Town, South Africa. The participants were 62 male (n = 48) and female (n = 14) patients who were admitted to the treatment centre during April to September 1997. Information was elicited from the participants by means of: 1 an interview schedule designed for the study 2 the Readiness to Change Questionnaire (Treatment Version) (RCQ-TV) developed by Heather et al. (1996). Information regarding participants' termination of treatment was also obtained. The data were analysed using discriminant function analysis to distinguish between dropout and treatment completion. The results of the discriminant function analysis suggested that six patient factors contributed significantly to the discrimination between dropouts and completers of treatment. Those patients who did not complete treatment were more likely than those who completed treatment to: 1 consume wine most frequently 2 drink daily 3 have been living alone at the time of admission to treatment 4 have been separated from a spouse at the time of admission 5 have been in the Preparation-action stage of change 6 have had previous treatment for problem drinking. These results are discussed in relation to other relevant research. Recommendations are made for the implementation of the findings in treatment, and implications for possible future research are suggested.