Abstract

ZAPATA-VANEGAS, Mario A.. Accreditation standards concerning patients' rights: a review of the current state of affairs related to drug-addiction treatment centers in Colombia. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2014, vol.16, n.2, pp.232-245. ISSN 0124-0064.  https://doi.org/10.15446/rsap.v16n2.36848.

Objective Characterizing and contrasting the current state of affairs concerning patients' rights-associated accreditation standards in a sample of drug-addiction treatment centers in Colombia. Methods This was mixed methodology research (i.e. descriptive and hermeneutic); a pilot sample of 21 drug-addiction treatment centers in Colombia was used for determining the current state of patients' rights accreditation standards. The possible relationship or independence between categorical variables was evaluated by using Fisher's exact test (0.05 significance level). A contrasting documentary review was made at the same time. Results Drug-addiction treatment centers provided more information for families (95 %) than patients (90 %) or minors (81 %). Possible barriers to gaining access for treatment were being HIV positive (29 %), being part of the LGTB population (14 %) and being female (10 %); religion and ethnicity were not seen as grounds for discrimination or treatment barriers. The patients' rights standards group coincided with Colombia´s accreditation system and Joint Commission standards; however, the latter accreditation entity has made significant progress regarding a specific manual for drug-addiction treatment centers. Conclusions The centers assessed in Colombia had made advances regarding accrediting patients' rights, but such standards require revision for being adapted to international developments and specific matters involved in treating addicts and the specific conditions for institutions dealing with such treatment.

Keywords : Accreditation; patients' rights; personal autonomy; substance-related disorder.

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