Predictors of Perceived Recovery and Satisfaction among Patients Receiving Substance Use Treatment in Kano, Nigeria

Patient satisfaction and perceived treatment effectiveness are critical components in evaluating substance use treatment outcomes. However, limited research in sub-Saharan Africa has examined predictors of these outcomes using standardized tools. This study investigated socio-demographic and treatment-related factors associated with perceived recovery and satisfaction among patients receiving substance use treatment in Kano, Nigeria. A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted among adult patients attending a tertiary addiction treatment clinic. Participants completed structured questionnaires, including the Treatment Effectiveness Assessment Scale (TEAS), the Client Assessment of Treatment Scale (CATS), and socio-demographic information. Bivariate correlations and multivariate linear regressions were used to examine relationships between predictors such as age, gender, income, education, and clinic attendance, and outcome scores. Results showed that higher educational attainment and more frequent clinic visits were significantly associated with increased TEAS and CATS scores (p < 0.05). Income also positively predicted perceived recovery. Younger age was associated with higher TEAS scores in the domains of substance use and community reintegration but showed a non-significant trend toward lower satisfaction on the CATS scale. Multivariate models explained 31% of the variance in TEAS scores and 28% in CATS scores. Male gender significantly predicted higher satisfaction in the “respect” domain of CATS. In conclusion, education, consistent clinic attendance, and income positively influenced patients’ perceptions of recovery and satisfaction. Younger individuals reported higher perceived recovery, while satisfaction tended to increase with age. These findings support the integration of patient-reported outcome measures in guiding addiction services and tailoring interventions for vulnerable groups in resource-limited settings.