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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 25 of 135 Research Studies DisplayedFoot C, Korthuis PT, Tsui JI
Associations between stimulant use and return to illicit opioid use following initiation onto medication for opioid use disorder.
The objective of this secondary analysis of data from two clinical trials comparing buprenorphine and extended-release naltrexone was to estimate the effect of ongoing stimulant use on return to illicit opioid use after initiation of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). The findings indicated that people on medication for opioid use disorder who subsequently used stimulants appeared more likely to return to non-prescribed opioids use compared with those without stimulant use; this association appeared stronger among patients who initiated buprenorphine compared with those who initiated extended-release naltrexone.
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation: Foot C, Korthuis PT, Tsui JI .
Associations between stimulant use and return to illicit opioid use following initiation onto medication for opioid use disorder.
Addiction 2024 Jan; 119(1):149-57. doi: 10.1111/add.16334..
Keywords: Opioids, Substance Abuse, Medication, Behavioral Health
Wolf RM, Hall M, Williams DJ
Disparities in pharmacologic restraint for children hospitalized in mental health crisis.
This retrospective cohort study examined associations between pharmacologic restraint use and race and ethnicity among children (aged 5-≤18 years) admitted for mental health conditions to acute care nonpsychiatric children's hospitals. Study period was 2018 to 2022 and was conducted at 41 US children’s hospitals and included a cohort of 61,503 hospitalizations. Compared with non-Hispanic Black children, children of non-Hispanic White (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.81), Asian (aOR, 0.82), or other race and ethnicity (aOR, 0.68) were less likely to receive pharmacologic restraint, with no significant difference with Hispanic children. When stratified by sex, racial/ethnic differences were magnified in males, except for Hispanic males, and not found in females. Sensitivity analysis revealed amplified disparities for all racial/ethnic groups, including Hispanic youth.
AHRQ-funded; HS026122.
Citation: Wolf RM, Hall M, Williams DJ .
Disparities in pharmacologic restraint for children hospitalized in mental health crisis.
Pediatrics 2024 Jan; 153(1). doi: 10.1542/peds.2023-061353..
Keywords: Disparities, Children/Adolescents, Behavioral Health, Inpatient Care, Hospitals, Medication
Bridges NC, Taber R, Foulds AL
Medications for opioid use disorder in rural primary care practices: patient and provider experiences.
This study’s purpose was to gain a better understanding of the barriers and facilitators operating at multiple levels to access or provide medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in rural Pennsylvania. The authors interviewed patients and providers who were involved in the Rural Access to Medication Assisted Treatment in Pennsylvania (RAMP) Project, which facilitated adoption of MOUD in rural primary care clinics. The study conducted 35 semi-structured interviews with MOUD patients and MOUD providers participating in RAMP. The interviews were coded by the study team. Themes from the qualitative interviews were organized in five nested levels: individual, interpersonal, health care setting, community, and public policy. Patients and providers agreed on many barriers (such as lack of providers, lack of transportation, insufficient rapport and trust in patient-provider relationship, and cost, etc.); however, their interpretation of the barrier, or indicated solution, diverged in meaningful ways. Patients described their experiences in broad terms pointing to the social determinants of health while providers focused on their professional roles, responsibilities, and operations within the primary care setting.
AHRQ-funded; HS025072.
Citation: Bridges NC, Taber R, Foulds AL .
Medications for opioid use disorder in rural primary care practices: patient and provider experiences.
J Subst Use Addict Treat 2023 Nov; 154:209133. doi: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.209133..
Keywords: Rural Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents, Opioids, Medication, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Primary Care
Somohano VC, Smith CL, Saha S
Patient-provider shared decision-making, trust, and opioid misuse among US veterans prescribed long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain.
This article examined the role that trust in a prescribing provider has on shared decision-making and opioid misuse in opioid-specific pain management. A secondary analysis of data from a prospective cohort study was conducted of US Veterans (N = 1273) prescribed long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) for chronic non-cancer pain. Patient-provider shared decision-making had a total significant effect on opioid misuse, in the absence of the mediator, such that higher levels of shared decision-making were associated with lower levels of reported opioid misuse. When trust in provider was added to the mediation model, the indirect effect of shared decision-making on opioid misuse through trust in provider remained significant.
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation: Somohano VC, Smith CL, Saha S .
Patient-provider shared decision-making, trust, and opioid misuse among US veterans prescribed long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain.
J Gen Intern Med 2023 Sep; 38(12):2755-60. doi: 10.1007/s11606-023-08212-5..
Keywords: Decision Making, Opioids, Medication, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Pain, Chronic Conditions
Bongiovanni T, Pletcher MJ, Lau C
A behavioral intervention to promote use of multimodal pain medication for hospitalized patients: a randomized controlled trial.
Administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has become a foundational strategy to decrease the use of opioids, but data is lacking to describe recommending utilization when admitting patients using electronic health record systems. The purpose of this study was to assess an electronic health record system to increase ordering of NSAIDs for hospitalized adults. The researchers conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial of clinicians admitting adult patients to a health system over a period of 9-months. Clinicians in the intervention arm were required to actively order or decline NSAIDs; the control arm was provided the same order but without a required response. A total of 20,085 hospitalizations were included. The study found that among the hospitalizations, 52% were admitted by a clinician randomized to the intervention arm. NSAIDs were ordered in 22% of the interventions and 22% of the control admissions. There were no statistically significant differences in NSAID administration, pain scores, or opioid prescribing. There were no differences in clinical harms, with average pain scores of 3.36 in the control group and 3.39 in the intervention group, on a scale of 0-5.
AHRQ-funded; HS026383.
Citation: Bongiovanni T, Pletcher MJ, Lau C .
A behavioral intervention to promote use of multimodal pain medication for hospitalized patients: a randomized controlled trial.
J Hosp Med 2023 Aug; 18(8):685-92. doi: 10.1002/jhm.13153..
Keywords: Pain, Opioids, Medication, Behavioral Health, Practice Patterns
Miller-Rosales C, Busch SH, Meara ER
Internal and environmental predictors of physician practice use of screening and medications for opioid use disorders.
This study examined the extent of screening for opioid use and availability of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in a national cross-section of multi-physician primary care and multispecialty practices. The authors found that a total of 26.2% of practices offered MOUD, while 69.4% of practices screened for opioid use. Offering of MOUD in a practice was associated with having advanced HIT functionality, while access to on-site behavioral clinicians was positively associated with offering MOUD in adjusted models.
AHRQ-funded; HS024075.
Citation: Miller-Rosales C, Busch SH, Meara ER .
Internal and environmental predictors of physician practice use of screening and medications for opioid use disorders.
Med Care Res Rev 2023 Aug; 80(4):410-22. doi: 10.1177/10775587231162681..
Keywords: Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Screening, Medication, Practice Patterns
Levander XA, Carmody T, Cook RR
A gender-based secondary analysis of the ADAPT-2 combination naltrexone and bupropion treatment for methamphetamine use disorder trial.
This study’s objective was to determine if there were gender-based differences in treatment for methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) in general comparing treatment with placebo and due to use of a hormonal method of contraception (HMC). This research was a secondary analysis of ADAPT-2, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, two-stage sequential parallel comparison design trial. This cohort study comprised 126 women (403 total participants); average age of 40.1 years with moderate to severe MUD. At baseline, women used methamphetamine intravenously fewer days than men [15.4 versus 23.1% days] and more women than men had anxiety (59.5 versus 47.6%). Of the 113 women capable of becoming pregnant, 31 used HMC. Treatment response for women was 29% in Stage 1 and 5.6% in Stage 2 compared with 3.2% and 0% on placebo, respectively. A treatment effect was found independently for females and males; with no between-gender treatment effect (0.144 females versus 0.100 males). Treatment effect did not differ by HMC use (0.156 HMC versus 0.128 none).
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation: Levander XA, Carmody T, Cook RR .
A gender-based secondary analysis of the ADAPT-2 combination naltrexone and bupropion treatment for methamphetamine use disorder trial.
Addiction 2023 Jul; 118(7):1320-28. doi: 10.1111/add.16163..
Keywords: Substance Abuse, Medication, Behavioral Health, Sex Factors
Bushnell G, Lloyd J, Olfson M
Antipsychotic medication use in Medicaid-insured children decreased substantially between 2008 And 2016.
In the early 2000s there was a rapid growth of pediatric antipsychotic prescribing, especially in the Medicaid population, and concerns grew about the safety and appropriateness of such prescribing. Numerous states implemented policy and educational programs focused on safer and more stringent utilization of antipsychotics. Antipsychotic utilization leveled off toward the end of the 2000s, but no recent national trend estimates of antipsychotic utilization in children enrolled in Medicaid exist. The authors of this study report a substantial decrease in antipsychotic use among children ages 2-17 between 2008 and 2016. Declines existed across foster care status, age, sex, and racial and ethnic groups studied. The rate of children with an antipsychotic prescription who received any diagnosis related to a pediatric indication that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration increased from 38 percent in 2008 to 45 percent in 2016.
AHRQ-funded; HS02600.
Citation: Bushnell G, Lloyd J, Olfson M .
Antipsychotic medication use in Medicaid-insured children decreased substantially between 2008 And 2016.
Health Aff 2023 Jul; 42(7):973-80. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.01625..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Medication, Medicaid, Behavioral Health
Cook RR, Foot C, Arah OA
Estimating the impact of stimulant use on initiation of buprenorphine and extended-release naltrexone in two clinical trials and real-world populations.
The co-use of stimulants and opioids is increasing rapidly. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) have demonstrated efficacy in randomized clinical trials (RCTs), but stimulant use may decrease the likelihood of initiating MOUD treatment. Moreover, trial participants may not represent "real-world" populations who would benefit from treatment. The study analyses included 673 clinical trial participants, 139 NSDUH respondents (weighted to represent 661,650 people), 71,751 TEDS treatment episodes, and 1,933 ROI participants. The study found that in RCTs, stimulant use reduced the likelihood of MOUD initiation by 32%. Stimulant use associations were slightly attenuated and non-significant among housed adults needing treatment and adults entering OUD treatment. The association was more pronounced, but still non-significant among rural people injecting drugs. Stimulant use had a larger negative impact on XR-NTX initiation compared to buprenorphine, especially in the rural population. The researchers concluded that stimulant use is a barrier to buprenorphine or XR-NTX initiation in clinical trials and real-world populations that would benefit from OUD treatment. Interventions to address stimulant use among patients with OUD are urgently needed, particularly among rural people injecting drugs, who already face limited access to MOUD.
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation: Cook RR, Foot C, Arah OA .
Estimating the impact of stimulant use on initiation of buprenorphine and extended-release naltrexone in two clinical trials and real-world populations.
Addict Sci Clin Pract 2023 Feb 14; 18(1):11. doi: 10.1186/s13722-023-00364-3..
Keywords: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Opioids, Medication
Wolf RM, Hall M, Williams DJ
Pharmacologic restraint use for children experiencing mental health crises in pediatric hospitals.
This study’s objective was to determine hospital-level incidence and variation of pharmacologic restraint use among children admitted for mental health conditions in children's hospitals. The authors examined data for children (5 to ≤18 years) admitted to children's hospitals with a primary mental health condition from 2018 to 2020 using the Pediatric Health Information System database. Of 29,834 included encounters, 12.6% had pharmacologic restraint use, with three hospitals the highest utilizers of all drug classes. Adjusted hospital rates ranged from 35 to 389 pharmacologic restraint use days per 1000 mental health bed days with a mean of 175. There were no significant differences in pharmacologic restraint use found in the hospital-level analysis.
AHRQ-funded; HS026122.
Citation: Wolf RM, Hall M, Williams DJ .
Pharmacologic restraint use for children experiencing mental health crises in pediatric hospitals.
J Hosp Med 2023 Feb; 18(2):120-29. doi: 10.1002/jhm.13009..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Behavioral Health, Hospitals, Medication
Ali MM, McClellan C, Mutter R
AHRQ Author: McClellan C
Recreational marijuana laws and the misuse of prescription opioids: evidence from National Survey on Drug Use and Health microdata.
Using micro data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, researchers examined the relationship between recreational marijuana laws (RMLs) and the misuse of prescription opioids. They found that RML adoption reduced the likelihood of misusing prescription opioids; however, this initial effect appeared to dissipate 2 or 3 years after RML adoption, when the relationship to the likelihood of misusing prescription opioids became positive.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Ali MM, McClellan C, Mutter R .
Recreational marijuana laws and the misuse of prescription opioids: evidence from National Survey on Drug Use and Health microdata.
Health Econ 2023 Feb; 32(2):277-301. doi: 10.1002/hec.4620..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Policy
Toseef MU, Durfee J, Podewils LJ
Total cost of care associated with opioid use disorder treatment.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study among adult patients diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD) and who had a clinical encounter at a safety-net institution in Denver in 2020 to investigate the association of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment initiation and ongoing care on overall healthcare costs of Medicaid Fee-for-Service patients. Results indicated that patients with OUD who initiated MOUD treatment but were not linked to ongoing care had the highest healthcare cost, while those who were linked to ongoing MOUD treatment had the lowest cost. The researchers concluded that MOUD treatment was not only effective at addressing the morbidity and mortality burden of OUD, but also associated with decreased financial costs. They noted that additional policy and care delivery changes will be needed to focus efforts for improve linkage to ongoing treatment
AHRQ-funded; HS027389.
Citation: Toseef MU, Durfee J, Podewils LJ .
Total cost of care associated with opioid use disorder treatment.
Prev Med 2023 Jan;166:107345. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107345.
Keywords: Opioids, Healthcare Costs, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Medication
Carlile N, Fuller TE, Benneyan JC
Lessons learned in implementing a chronic opioid therapy management system.
This article describes a research collaborative of health service researchers, systems engineers, and clinicians that sought to improve processes for safer chronic opioid therapy management in an academic primary care center. The authors present implementation results and lessons learned along with an intervention toolkit that others may consider using within their organization. They designed, tested, and implemented two key safe opioid use process metrics-percent for patients with recent opioid treatment agreements and urine drug tests. Focus groups were conducted after the conclusion of the implementation. They found a general lack of knowledge regarding resources available to patients and prescribers in the primary care clinic. In addition, 69% of clinicians reported largely “inheriting” (rather than initiating) their chronic opioid therapy patients. They also tracked 68 patients over a 4-year period and found although process measures improved, full adherence was not achieved for the entire population. Barriers identified included team structure, the evolving opioid environment, and surveillance challenges, along with disruptions resulting from the 2019 novel coronavirus.
AHRQ-funded; HS024453.
Citation: Carlile N, Fuller TE, Benneyan JC .
Lessons learned in implementing a chronic opioid therapy management system.
J Patient Saf 2022 Dec 1;18(8):e1142-e49. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000001039..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Practice Patterns
Grove LR, Rao N, Domino ME
Are North Carolina clinicians delivering opioid use disorder treatment to Medicaid beneficiaries?
This study’s goal was to inform efforts to increase prescriptions of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) among Medicaid beneficiaries. A retrospective study of North Carolina licensed physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners was conducted to estimate Medicaid participation prevalence among clinicians authorized to prescribe buprenorphine and to estimate the association between clinician characteristics and OUD care delivery to Medicaid beneficiaries. Outcomes looked for were indicators of any Medicaid professional claims and Medicaid claims data for buprenorphine and naltrexone. Licensure data from 2018 was merged with 2019 US Drug Enforcement Administration to identify clinicians who used the DEA waiver required to prescribe buprenorphine (n = 1714). Services by waivered clinicians to Medicare beneficiaries ranged from 67% of behavioral health clinicians to 82.9% of specialist physicians. Prevalence of prescribing buprenorphine to Medicaid beneficiaries ranged from 30.3% among specialist physicians to 51.6% among behavioral health clinicians.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Grove LR, Rao N, Domino ME .
Are North Carolina clinicians delivering opioid use disorder treatment to Medicaid beneficiaries?
Addiction 2022 Nov;117(11):2855-63. doi: 10.1111/add.15854..
Keywords: Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Vulnerable Populations, Medication, Access to Care, Medicaid
Gibbons RD, Hur K, Lavigne JE
Association between folic acid prescription fills and suicide attempts and intentional self-harm among privately insured US adults.
This paper describes a large-scale pharmacoepidemiologic study of folic acid prescription fills to determine if there is a decreased risk of suicide attempt. Data were collected from a pharmacoepidemiologic database of US medical claims (MarketScan) for 866,586 patients with private health insurance who filled a folic acid prescription from 2012 to 2017. In the cohort 81.3% were female, and 10.42% were 60 years and older. Overall, there were 261 suicidal events during covered by a folic acid prescription for a rate of 4.73 per 100,000 person-months, compared with 895 suicidal events during months without folic acid for a rate of 10.61 per 100,000 person-months. Adjusting for age and sex, diagnoses related to suicidal behavior, diagnoses related to folic acid deficiency, folate-reducing medications, history of folate-reducing medications, and history of suicidal events, the hazard ratio (HR) for folic acid for suicide events was 0.56, with similar results for the modal dosage of 1 mg of folic acid per day and women of childbearing age. The same association with the negative control cyanocobalamin found no association with suicide attempt.
AHRQ-funded; HS016973.
Citation: Gibbons RD, Hur K, Lavigne JE .
Association between folic acid prescription fills and suicide attempts and intentional self-harm among privately insured US adults.
JAMA Psychiatry 2022 Nov;79(11):118-1123. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.2990..
Keywords: Medication, Behavioral Health, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events
Mackie TI, Schaefer AJ, Palatucci JS
The role of formal policy to promote informed consent of psychotropic medications for youth in child welfare custody: a national examination.
The purpose of this sequential multi-method study was to propose a classification for the procedural elements of informed consent policies based upon existing child welfare policies and then explored whether formal state policies across the United States authorized these elements. The researchers conducted interviews with 58 key informants primarily from state child welfare agencies to identify a classification of procedural elements for informed consent of psychotropic medications. A legislative review of the 50 states and D.C. was then conducted to characterize whether formal policies endorsed each procedural element. Key informants reported five procedural elements in policy, and 23 states endorsed relevant legislation. Only two states specified all five procedural elements, and the content of any procedural elements varied considerably across policies.
AHRQ-funded; HS02198501; HS026001
Citation: Mackie TI, Schaefer AJ, Palatucci JS .
The role of formal policy to promote informed consent of psychotropic medications for youth in child welfare custody: a national examination.
Adm Policy Ment Health 2022 Nov;49(6):986-1003. doi: 10.1007/s10488-022-01212-3..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Vulnerable Populations, Medication, Behavioral Health, Policy
Beetham T, Fiellin DA, Busch SH
Physician response to COVID-19-driven telehealth flexibility for opioid use disorder.
This study surveyed physicians who provide opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment on their preferences and practices regarding telehealth that have evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 1141 physicians who were publicly listed buprenorphine-prescribing physicians were surveyed. Most respondents found telehealth to be effective, with 54% who found it more effective than expected. Overall, 85% were in favor of temporary telehealth flexibility being permanently extended, and 77% would be likely to use telehealth after the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
AHRQ-funded; HS017589.
Citation: Beetham T, Fiellin DA, Busch SH .
Physician response to COVID-19-driven telehealth flexibility for opioid use disorder.
Am J Manag Care 2022 Sep;28(9):456-63. doi: 10.37765/ajmc.2022.89221..
Keywords: COVID-19, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Medication
Bowden CF, Simmel C, Mendez A
The complexity of psychotropic medication prescription and treating trauma among youth in foster care: perspectives from the lived experience.
The purpose of this study was to examine stakeholders' perspectives of the relationship between psychotropic medications and trauma informed care (TIC) for youth in foster care. The researchers recruited foster caseworkers, prescribing clinicians, caregivers, and alumni of the foster care system and conducted semi-structured individual and group interviews. Data were recorded and transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a directed content analysis approach. Five themes emerged across the recorded and transcribed data within stakeholder groups: 1) acknowledging trauma; 2) role of psychotropic medication; 3) psychosocial resources; 4) additional supports; and, 5) training and education. Stakeholders identified TIC as an important component of mental health services for youth in foster care. Most stakeholders felt that psychotropic medication was overused in treating trauma. Respondents suggested including additional supportive team members to help guide youth through the mental health treatment system and stated the importance of support from individuals with common lived experiences. The study concluded that there is a need for: improved training and education for stakeholders, additional sources of support for youth in foster care, and an overall system that emphasizes trauma-sensitive clinical interactions and psychosocial supports.
AHRQ-funded; HS02600101A1.
Citation: Bowden CF, Simmel C, Mendez A .
The complexity of psychotropic medication prescription and treating trauma among youth in foster care: perspectives from the lived experience.
Adm Policy Ment Health 2022 Sep;49(5):821-33. doi: 10.1007/s10488-022-01203-4..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Vulnerable Populations, Behavioral Health, Trauma, Medication
Khouja T, Zhou J, Gellad WF
Serious opioid-related adverse outcomes associated with opioids prescribed by dentists.
This study’s objective was to evaluate adverse outcomes and persistent opioid use (POU) after opioid prescriptions by dentists, based on whether opioids were overprescribed or within recommendations. A cross-sectional analysis of adults with dental visit and corresponding opioid prescription from 2011 to 2017 within a nationwide commercial claims database was conducted. As per CDC guidelines, opioid overprescribing was defined as >120 morphine milligram equivalents. Of 633,387 visits, 16.6% had POU and 2.6% experienced an adverse outcome. POU was higher when opioids were overprescribed with visits associated with mild pain and those with substance use disorders having the highest risk of both outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS025177.
Citation: Khouja T, Zhou J, Gellad WF .
Serious opioid-related adverse outcomes associated with opioids prescribed by dentists.
Pain 2022 Aug 1;163(8):1571-80. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002545..
Keywords: Opioids, Dental and Oral Health, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Practice Patterns, Pain, Medication, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events
Marks MR, Dux MC, Rao V
Treatment patterns of anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder following traumatic brain injury.
Investigators examined psychotropic medication use and psychotherapy patterns among individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders and PTSD post-traumatic brain injury (TBI). They found that receipt of pharmacotherapy pre- and post-TBI was considerably more common than receipt of psychotherapy. Individuals diagnosed with anxiety were 66% less likely to receive psychotherapy compared with individuals diagnosed with PTSD. Overall, psychotropic medication use and rates of antidepressant prescription use in the anxiety group were higher compared to those in the PTSD group.
AHRQ-funded; HS024560.
Citation: Marks MR, Dux MC, Rao V .
Treatment patterns of anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder following traumatic brain injury.
J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 2022 Summer;34(3):247-53. doi: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.21040104..
Keywords: Anxiety, Behavioral Health, Trauma, Brain Injury, Treatments, Practice Patterns, Medication
Kagarmanova A, Sparkman H, Laiteerapong N
Improving the management of chronic pain, opioid use, and opioid use disorder in older adults: study protocol for i-cope study.
This article describes a protocol for an upcoming study on the planned implementation and evaluation of I-COPE (Improving Chicago Older Adult Opioid and Pain Management through Patient-centered Clinical Decision Support and Project ECHO®) to improve care for older adults with chronic pain, opioid use, and opioid use disorder (OUD). The study will be implemented in 35 clinical sites across the metropolitan Chicago area for patients aged ≥ 65 with chronic pain, opioid use, or OUD who receive primary care at one of the clinics. I-COPE includes the integration of patient-reported data on symptoms and preferences, clinical decision support tools and shared decision making into routine primary care. Primary care providers will be trained on the tools through web-based videos and an optional Project ECHO® course, entitled "Pain Management and OUD in Older Adults." A framework called RE-AIM will be used to assess the I-COPE implementation. Outcomes considered effective include an increased variety of recommended pain treatments, decreased prescriptions of higher-risk pain treatments, and decreased patient pain scores. Outcomes will be evaluated at 6 and 12 months after implementation, and PCPs participating in Project ECHO® will be evaluated on changes in knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy using pre- and post-course surveys.
AHRQ-funded; HS027910.
Citation: Kagarmanova A, Sparkman H, Laiteerapong N .
Improving the management of chronic pain, opioid use, and opioid use disorder in older adults: study protocol for i-cope study.
Trials 2022 Jul 27;23(1):602. doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06537-w..
Keywords: Elderly, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Opioids, Medication, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Decision Making, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Jakubowski A, Rath C, Harocopos A
Implementation of buprenorphine services in NYC syringe services programs: a qualitative process evaluation.
This article discusses a study that investigated the barriers to and facilitators of implementing syringe service programs (SSPs) for providing buprenorphine treatment access to people with opioid use disorder (OUD) who are reluctant to seek care elsewhere. The study looked at the program ran by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) that funded the creation of nine SSPs that developed “low-threshold” buprenorphine services as part of a multipronged initiative to lower opioid-related overdose rates. Barriers identified included gaps in staff knowledge and comfort communicating with participants about buprenorphine, difficulty hiring buprenorphine providers, managing tension between harm reduction and traditional OUD treatment philosophies, and financial constraints. Implementation facilitators included receiving technical assistance from DOHMH, having designated buprenorphine coordinators, offering other supportive services to participants, and telehealth to bridge gaps in provider availability. Three key recommendations were made including: (1) health departments should provide support for SSPs in training staff, building health service infrastructure, and developing policies and procedures, (2) SSPs should designate a buprenorphine coordinator and ensure regular training on buprenorphine for frontline staff, and (3) buprenorphine providers should be selected or supported to use a harm reduction approach to buprenorphine treatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS026396.
Citation: Jakubowski A, Rath C, Harocopos A .
Implementation of buprenorphine services in NYC syringe services programs: a qualitative process evaluation.
Harm Reduct J 2022 Jul 10;19(1):75. doi: 10.1186/s12954-022-00654-0..
Keywords: Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Medication
Korthuis PT, Cook RR, Lum PJ
HIV clinic-based extended-release naltrexone versus treatment as usual for people with HIV and opioid use disorder: a non-blinded, randomized non-inferiority trial.
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment medications can improve outcomes for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and also reduce opioid use. The purpose of the study was to determine if outpatient naltrexone treatment could also reduce opioid use and improve outcomes for HIV. The researchers reported that enrollment was stopped early because of slower than expected recruitment, resulting in 114 final participants with untreated OUD and HIV, with 62% positive for fentanyl, 60% positive for cocaine, and 47% positive for other opioids at the baseline. The intervention compared treatment as usual (TAU) of methadone or buprenorphine with extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) on group differences in viral suppression at 24 weeks and past 30-day use of opioids at 24 weeks. The study reported that at 24 weeks the outcome of viral suppression was similar for TAU and XR-NTX, and that fewer XR-NTX participants initiated medication than TAU participants. The outcome of previous 30-day use of opioids was similar for TAU as compared to XR-NTX. Of those participants who did initiate medication, those administered XR-NTX experienced less days of opioid use when compared with TAU in the prior 30 days. The researchers reported that the study evidence was not conclusive but did support that XR-NTX is not inferior to TAU for HIV viral suppression, and that study participants who started XR-NTX used less opioids at 24 weeks than participants who were administered TAU.
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation: Korthuis PT, Cook RR, Lum PJ .
HIV clinic-based extended-release naltrexone versus treatment as usual for people with HIV and opioid use disorder: a non-blinded, randomized non-inferiority trial.
Addiction 2022 Jul;117(7):1961-71. doi: 10.1111/add.15836..
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Medication, Treatments, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes, Evidence-Based Practice
Jakubowski A, Norton BL, Hayes BT
Low-threshold buprenorphine treatment in a syringe services program: program description and outcomes.
Investigators described the treatment philosophy, practices, and outcomes of a low-threshold syringe services program (SSP)-based buprenorphine program developed through an SSP-academic medical center partnership. They found that, in an SSP-based low-threshold buprenorphine treatment program, approximately one-third of patients continued buprenorphine treatment for 180 days or more, and buprenorphine adherence was high. They concluded that SSPs can be a pathway to buprenorphine treatment for patients at high risk for opioid-related harms.
AHRQ-funded; HS026396.
Citation: Jakubowski A, Norton BL, Hayes BT .
Low-threshold buprenorphine treatment in a syringe services program: program description and outcomes.
J Addict Med 2022 Jul-Aug;16(4):447-53. doi: 10.1097/adm.0000000000000934..
Keywords: Medication, Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health
Wyse JJ, Mackey K, Lovejoy TI
Expanding access to medications for opioid use disorder through locally-initiated implementation.
The purpose of this study was to identify and describe locally- and internally-developed approaches to improve patient access to medication treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD). The researchers utilized the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to guide qualitative interviews and ethnographic observations to examine the planning, design, and implementation of a locally-initiated process to expand access to MOUD. The study found that a self-appointed local team successfully developed and implemented a Primary Care-based Buprenorphine Clinic and E-Consult Service to expand access to MOUD to patients across the health care system, including national and local policy changes, identifying appropriate and widely supported models of care delivery and consultation, and increasing staff investment in the efforts by including them in collaborative planning and problem-solving. The study concluded that a local team can plan, develop and build new processes of care that are customized to meet local needs and contribute to long-term sustainability in the community.
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation: Wyse JJ, Mackey K, Lovejoy TI .
Expanding access to medications for opioid use disorder through locally-initiated implementation.
Addict Sci Clin Pract 2022 Jun 20;17(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s13722-022-00312-7..
Keywords: Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Medication, Access to Care, Practice Patterns, Implementation