Case management to improve treatment outcomes

Case management was found in a systematic review with meta-analysis (Vanderplasschen et al., 2019) to be more effective than treatment as usual in:

• improving  treatment outcomes, including retention in treatment, linkages with services, satisfaction in treatment (SMD = 0.33, 95% CI 0.18–0.48). The largest effect size was found for retention in substance use treatment (SMD = 0.47, 95% CI 0.13 - 0.81) and linkage with substance use services (SMD = 0.23, 95% CI 0.11 - 0.35)

The analysis found a very small but statistically not significant effect on personal functioning outcomes (substance use, health status, legal involvement, risk behavior, and social functioning).

Case management is defined in the review as an intervention designed to enhance coordination and continuity of care and support, especially for persons with multiple, and complex needs.