Medida de la eficiencia técnica de programas de tratamiento con opiáceos: utilidad del modelo Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)

Aim

To assess the usefulness of the mathematical model Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to measure the efficiency of opioid substitution programs (OSP).

Material and Methods

A simulation study was conducted based on a series of assumptions that are tested using non-real data imputed from theoretical background. Fifteen hypothetical OSP are compared to estimate their relative efficiency. We obtained six variables from each program, three of which are considered input indices (therapists/patients ratio, number of treatment units and proportion of patients with adequate opioid doses), and the other three are considered output indices (number days of heroin abstinence in the last month, retention rates and degree of recovery from drug-use related problems). The data set was subjected to DEA analyses.

Results

The DEA model ranked the OSP as a function of their efficiency levels. Programs P8, P9, P11, P5 and P6 were considered inefficient and the magnitude of the input and output variables were far from optimal achievement. In these analyses, the output variable that yielding a greater efficiency was the number days of heroin abstinence in the last month and the input variable providing greater inefficiency was the proportion of patients with adequate opioid doses.

Conclusion

The DEA model yields can be useful to measure the relative efficiency of the OSP. The information provided by the model may be used by OSPs managers to introduce changes in therapeutic processes with the aim of increasing their quality.