Physical health monitoring among an injecting drug using population

Abstract

Introduction

Injecting drug users experience higher rates of death and poorer health than their non-injecting peers.

Accurate assessment of drug users physical health needs forms an essential precursor to treatment.

Aims

To determine the completeness of documentation and accuracy of medical evaluation for a sample of injecting drug users.

To establish the detection rate of medical co morbidity in injecting drug using patients.

Methods

20 injecting drug users were randomly selected from the computer database The case notes of each of these patients were then checked for any physical health documentation and the quality of the documentation.

The medical databases of the acute hospital were then checked to identify if these patients have presented there and the medical conditions with which they have presented.

The patients were then asked during their outpatient appointment about their physical health condition and the last time they have been checked by the GP.

Results

80% of the patients had some health related information’s documented in the notes. However when these were compared with the history from the patients during the follow up OP appointments and medical notes, only 20% of the notes had good quality health documentation. 60% was found to meet standards.

50% of the patients had an acute hospital presentation with drug related complication. Of these 20% was in the previous 1 year. In terms of GP contact, 25% had seen the GP within the last 6 months and another 40% within the previous 1 year