Outcome Measurement and Evaluation as a routine practice in alcohol and other drug services in Belgium (OMER-BE) (OMER-BE)

The main goal of the OMER-BE study is to measure and compare recovery indicators between different treatment modalities and assess their evolution during and after treatment. In this way, the OMER-BE study will shed light on how individuals in recovery use different resources in these settings. 

This research project takes the form of a longitudinal cohort study in five different treatment modalities in Flanders and Brussels: outpatient community-based support (n=50), outpatient substitution treatment (n=50), residential withdrawal treatment (n=50), long-term residential care and therapeutic communities (n=50), and mobile teams (n=50). The impact of these treatments will be monitored at different time points (baseline, 45, 90 and 180 days after intake) using traditional outcome measures (e.g. drug use, employment, hospital admissions), subjective indicators of recovery (e.g. well-being, quality of life), patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs). PROMs and PREMs are seen as valuable indicators to monitor the course of chronic conditions and may also be implemented in the Belgian health care system. Other recovery indicators include the role of the social network and changes in identity, living arrangements, support needs, etc. This study aims to identify a number of these predictive factors of treatment retention and recovery at three, six and twelve months after intake.