Engagement in alcohol treatment: The client's experience of, and satisfaction with, the assessment interview

Clients' experiences of routine alcohol assessment interviews at a therapeutic day unit were studied in order to enhance understanding of the factors associated with subsequent engagement in treatment. The paper describes the development and use of the Client's Experiences and Satisfaction Questionnaire. The main finding from its use with 131 clients, was a positive association between the client's perceptions of the quality of the therapeutic relationship established during the interview, and subsequent engagement in treatment. Large differences were found between the engagement rates of different workers. Clients who were being referred for the first time and those with a SADQ score below 30 were less likely to engage. The findings are augmented with quotes from the clients themselves.