Table 1 The baseline characteristics and QoL scores comparisons using independent t tests (for continuous variables) or χ ² tests (for categorical variables) between publicly funded and self-paid methadone maintenance treatment patients

Age (year)

129

38.29 (7.65)

105

37.97 (7.16)

0.32

0.747

Gender

0.93

0.334

 Female

11

13

 Male

118

92

Living alone^a

1.99

0.158

 No

118

98

 Yes

11

4

Educational years

129

9.36 (2.55)

105

9.48 (2.09)

0.40

0.688

Age of first heroin use

129

25.59 (5.89)

105

26.92 (6.80)

1.65

0.101

Heroin using years^a

112

9.25 (6.77)

82

6.48 (3.86)

3.59

<0.001

Fixed employment^a

<0.01

0.975

 No

60

49

 Yes

68

56

Family drug using

0.47

0.495

 No

109

92

 Yes

20

13

HBV carrier

0.28

0.597

 Seronegative

106

89

 Seropositive

23

16

HCV carrier

3.30

0.069

 Seronegative

4

9

 Seropositive

125

96

HIV carrier

45.35

<0.001

 Seronegative

84

105

 Seropositive

45

0

Physical QoL^a

128

11.95 (1.89)

103

12.48 (1.94)

2.10

0.036

Psychological QoL

129

11.94 (2.68)

105

12.83 (2.12)

2.83

0.005

Social QoL^a

129

12.62 (3.12)

104

13.44 (2.80)

2.09

0.038

Environment QoL

129

12.47 (2.86)

105

13.43 (2.30)

2.77

0.006