Development of an integrated digital health intervention to promote engagement in and adherence to medication for opioid use disorder

Abstract Background Buprenorphine-naloxone is an evidence-based treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. However, despite its efficacy, nearly half of participants are unsuccessful in achieving stabilization (i.e., period of time following medication induction in which medication dose is adjusted to be ef...

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Main Authors: Kirsten J. Langdon, Susan Ramsey, Caroline Scherzer, Kate Carey, Megan L. Ranney, Josiah Rich
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-04-01
Series:Addiction Science & Clinical Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13722-020-00189-4
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author Kirsten J. Langdon
Susan Ramsey
Caroline Scherzer
Kate Carey
Megan L. Ranney
Josiah Rich
author_facet Kirsten J. Langdon
Susan Ramsey
Caroline Scherzer
Kate Carey
Megan L. Ranney
Josiah Rich
author_sort Kirsten J. Langdon
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Buprenorphine-naloxone is an evidence-based treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. However, despite its efficacy, nearly half of participants are unsuccessful in achieving stabilization (i.e., period of time following medication induction in which medication dose is adjusted to be effective in reducing cravings/withdrawal, minimize potential side effects, and eliminate illicit substance use). This paper presents the study design and protocol for a digital health intervention designed to promote engagement in and adherence to buprenorphine treatment, offered through an outpatient addiction treatment center, through motivational enhancement and distress tolerance skills training. Personalized feedback interventions represent a promising method to effectively motivate engagement in and adherence to buprenorphine treatment. These interventions are generally brief, individually tailored, and have the potential to be delivered via mobile platforms. Distress tolerance, a transdiagnostic vulnerability factor, has been implicated in the development and maintenance of substance use. Targeting distress tolerance may improve substance use treatment outcomes by promoting the ability to persist in goal-directed activity even when experiencing physical or emotional distress. Methods The study aims are to: (1) develop and refine an interactive computer- and text message-delivered personalized feedback intervention that incorporates distress tolerance skills training for persons who have elected to initiate outpatient buprenorphine treatment (iCOPE); (2) examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of iCOPE for increasing abstinence, adherence, and retention in treatment compared to a treatment as usual comparison condition; and, (3) examine potential mechanisms that may underlie the efficacy of iCOPE in improving outcomes, including motivation, distress tolerance, self-regulation, and negative affect. Discussion Results of this study will be used to determine whether to proceed with further testing through a large-scale trial. This work has the potential to improve treatment outcomes by reducing illicit opioid use, increasing adherence/retention, and preventing future overdose and other complications of illicit opioid use. Trial Registration NCT03842384
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spelling doaj.art-8fee2e684b4e4f6e8726b99c7de4b2292022-12-22T00:30:06ZengBMCAddiction Science & Clinical Practice1940-06402020-04-0115111010.1186/s13722-020-00189-4Development of an integrated digital health intervention to promote engagement in and adherence to medication for opioid use disorderKirsten J. Langdon0Susan Ramsey1Caroline Scherzer2Kate Carey3Megan L. Ranney4Josiah Rich5Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island HospitalDepartment of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Rhode Island HospitalDepartment of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public HealthDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Alpert Medical School Brown UniversityDepartment of Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown UniversityAbstract Background Buprenorphine-naloxone is an evidence-based treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. However, despite its efficacy, nearly half of participants are unsuccessful in achieving stabilization (i.e., period of time following medication induction in which medication dose is adjusted to be effective in reducing cravings/withdrawal, minimize potential side effects, and eliminate illicit substance use). This paper presents the study design and protocol for a digital health intervention designed to promote engagement in and adherence to buprenorphine treatment, offered through an outpatient addiction treatment center, through motivational enhancement and distress tolerance skills training. Personalized feedback interventions represent a promising method to effectively motivate engagement in and adherence to buprenorphine treatment. These interventions are generally brief, individually tailored, and have the potential to be delivered via mobile platforms. Distress tolerance, a transdiagnostic vulnerability factor, has been implicated in the development and maintenance of substance use. Targeting distress tolerance may improve substance use treatment outcomes by promoting the ability to persist in goal-directed activity even when experiencing physical or emotional distress. Methods The study aims are to: (1) develop and refine an interactive computer- and text message-delivered personalized feedback intervention that incorporates distress tolerance skills training for persons who have elected to initiate outpatient buprenorphine treatment (iCOPE); (2) examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of iCOPE for increasing abstinence, adherence, and retention in treatment compared to a treatment as usual comparison condition; and, (3) examine potential mechanisms that may underlie the efficacy of iCOPE in improving outcomes, including motivation, distress tolerance, self-regulation, and negative affect. Discussion Results of this study will be used to determine whether to proceed with further testing through a large-scale trial. This work has the potential to improve treatment outcomes by reducing illicit opioid use, increasing adherence/retention, and preventing future overdose and other complications of illicit opioid use. Trial Registration NCT03842384http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13722-020-00189-4Opioid use disorderBuprenorphineMedications for opioid use disorderDistress toleranceMotivational enhancementMobile treatment
spellingShingle Kirsten J. Langdon
Susan Ramsey
Caroline Scherzer
Kate Carey
Megan L. Ranney
Josiah Rich
Development of an integrated digital health intervention to promote engagement in and adherence to medication for opioid use disorder
Addiction Science & Clinical Practice
Opioid use disorder
Buprenorphine
Medications for opioid use disorder
Distress tolerance
Motivational enhancement
Mobile treatment
title Development of an integrated digital health intervention to promote engagement in and adherence to medication for opioid use disorder
title_full Development of an integrated digital health intervention to promote engagement in and adherence to medication for opioid use disorder
title_fullStr Development of an integrated digital health intervention to promote engagement in and adherence to medication for opioid use disorder
title_full_unstemmed Development of an integrated digital health intervention to promote engagement in and adherence to medication for opioid use disorder
title_short Development of an integrated digital health intervention to promote engagement in and adherence to medication for opioid use disorder
title_sort development of an integrated digital health intervention to promote engagement in and adherence to medication for opioid use disorder
topic Opioid use disorder
Buprenorphine
Medications for opioid use disorder
Distress tolerance
Motivational enhancement
Mobile treatment
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13722-020-00189-4
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