Feasibility and Acceptability of a Digital Health Intervention to Promote Continued Engagement in Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Following Release From Jail/Prison
Background: Despite the extensive benefits of implementing Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in jail/prison, criminal justice-involved populations face significant challenges when transitioning back to the community following a period of incarceration. These risk factors are associated with...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/11782218221127111 |
| _version_ | 1798000308990771200 |
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| author | Kirsten J Langdon Paola Jiménez Muñoz Amanda Block Caroline Scherzer Susan Ramsey |
| author_facet | Kirsten J Langdon Paola Jiménez Muñoz Amanda Block Caroline Scherzer Susan Ramsey |
| author_sort | Kirsten J Langdon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Despite the extensive benefits of implementing Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in jail/prison, criminal justice-involved populations face significant challenges when transitioning back to the community following a period of incarceration. These risk factors are associated with increased drug use and discontinuation of evidence-based care. Novel intervention strategies are needed to support this high-risk period of transition. The primary objective of this protocol was to gather perspectives from the target population to optimize feasibility and acceptability of a combined in-person and text message-delivered intervention designed to support community reentry and continuation of MOUD. Methods: Participants (n = 8), who had prior experience engaging in MOUD while in jail/prison, were recruited from an outpatient primary care clinic in Rhode Island. A semi-structured interview was conducted to assess barriers/facilitators to technology following release, experiences of community reentry and OUD treatment, perceptions of continuum of care, and feasibility/acceptability of the intervention. All interviews were coded independently by 2 research assistants. Results: Participants reacted positively toward an intervention designed to support the transition to community-based care. Most participants denied any apprehension about using this type of platform. Obtaining a cell phone following release was endorsed as generally viable; however, special consideration must be paid to the consistency of cell phone service as well as digital literacy. Participants readily agreed on the utility of structured, daily text messages that provide motivational reminders and distress tolerance skill suggestions as well as the opportunity to access “on-demand” support. Conclusion: Overall, individuals engaged in MOUD while in jail/prison were receptive to a motivational- and distress tolerance-based digital health intervention to support recovery. Incorporating thematic results on suggested structural changes may increase the usability of this intervention to promote continuation of MOUD following release from jail/prison. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:18:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ab34c776df547579279e8aec22c1943 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1178-2218 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:18:10Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ab34c776df547579279e8aec22c19432022-12-22T04:27:09ZengSAGE PublishingSubstance Abuse: Research and Treatment1178-22182022-09-011610.1177/11782218221127111Feasibility and Acceptability of a Digital Health Intervention to Promote Continued Engagement in Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Following Release From Jail/PrisonKirsten J Langdon0Paola Jiménez Muñoz1Amanda Block2Caroline Scherzer3Susan Ramsey4Brown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health, Providence, RI, USABrown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health, Providence, RI, USABrown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health, Providence, RI, USADepartment of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USADivision of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USABackground: Despite the extensive benefits of implementing Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in jail/prison, criminal justice-involved populations face significant challenges when transitioning back to the community following a period of incarceration. These risk factors are associated with increased drug use and discontinuation of evidence-based care. Novel intervention strategies are needed to support this high-risk period of transition. The primary objective of this protocol was to gather perspectives from the target population to optimize feasibility and acceptability of a combined in-person and text message-delivered intervention designed to support community reentry and continuation of MOUD. Methods: Participants (n = 8), who had prior experience engaging in MOUD while in jail/prison, were recruited from an outpatient primary care clinic in Rhode Island. A semi-structured interview was conducted to assess barriers/facilitators to technology following release, experiences of community reentry and OUD treatment, perceptions of continuum of care, and feasibility/acceptability of the intervention. All interviews were coded independently by 2 research assistants. Results: Participants reacted positively toward an intervention designed to support the transition to community-based care. Most participants denied any apprehension about using this type of platform. Obtaining a cell phone following release was endorsed as generally viable; however, special consideration must be paid to the consistency of cell phone service as well as digital literacy. Participants readily agreed on the utility of structured, daily text messages that provide motivational reminders and distress tolerance skill suggestions as well as the opportunity to access “on-demand” support. Conclusion: Overall, individuals engaged in MOUD while in jail/prison were receptive to a motivational- and distress tolerance-based digital health intervention to support recovery. Incorporating thematic results on suggested structural changes may increase the usability of this intervention to promote continuation of MOUD following release from jail/prison.https://doi.org/10.1177/11782218221127111 |
| spellingShingle | Kirsten J Langdon Paola Jiménez Muñoz Amanda Block Caroline Scherzer Susan Ramsey Feasibility and Acceptability of a Digital Health Intervention to Promote Continued Engagement in Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Following Release From Jail/Prison Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment |
| title | Feasibility and Acceptability of a Digital Health Intervention to Promote Continued Engagement in Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Following Release From Jail/Prison |
| title_full | Feasibility and Acceptability of a Digital Health Intervention to Promote Continued Engagement in Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Following Release From Jail/Prison |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility and Acceptability of a Digital Health Intervention to Promote Continued Engagement in Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Following Release From Jail/Prison |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility and Acceptability of a Digital Health Intervention to Promote Continued Engagement in Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Following Release From Jail/Prison |
| title_short | Feasibility and Acceptability of a Digital Health Intervention to Promote Continued Engagement in Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Following Release From Jail/Prison |
| title_sort | feasibility and acceptability of a digital health intervention to promote continued engagement in medication for opioid use disorder following release from jail prison |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/11782218221127111 |
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