MSO SuiStab's study: content and issues of follow-up consultations of patients under opioid substitution therapy considered as stabilized. Patients and doctors' crossed experiences

Context. There is very little data in the literature that describes the experiences of General practitioners (GPs) and their patients in follow-up consultations on patients under opioid substitution therapy (OST) during the stability phase. It seemed necessary to collect their testimony about these consultations. Aim. To collect and analyze crossed testimonies of GPs and patients under OST. To study the representativeness of GP supervisor in relation to the GP population and their preventive practices. Methods. Qualitative study using interpretive phenomenological analysis, with individual semi-structured interviews of doctors or patients. Ten doctor-patient couples were recruited. Interviews were recorded and then transcribed in full. The analysis of each interview was triangulated with the NVivo software and analysed by doctor-patient couples a second time. Results. Follow up consultations of patients under OST appeared as a singular consultation in which each person has a special place for the other with a strong emotional connection. The analyze identified different relational types: patient-centered approach, biomedical approach and atypical mixed characteristics. Independently of the relational types, stability seemed to be associated with a balanced perception of the relationship for both patients and doctors. Thus, the follow-up seemed to match with patients' wishes, resulting in a global satisfaction of the established relationship. Conclusion. The satisfaction of achieving a relationship well balanced seems to lead to a kind of inertia. To help the relationship to progress, we probably need to think about each other's roles especially on the doctor's side.