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Adaptations to Opioid Use Disorder Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Survey of Prescribers.
Sung, Minhee L; Black, Anne C; Blevins, Derek; Henry, Brandy F; Cates-Wessel, Kathryn; Dawes, Michael A; Drexler, Karen; Hagle, Holly; Molfenter, Todd; Levin, Frances R; Becker, William C; Edelman, E Jennifer.
  • Sung ML; From the VA Health Services Research & Development, West Haven, CT (MLS); VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT (MLS, ACB, WCB); Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (MLS, ACB, WCB, EJE); Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons; New York State Psychiatric Institute, Division on Substance Use Disorders, New York City, NY (DB, FRL); School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, NY (BFH); College of Education, Pennsylvania State University, Univer
J Addict Med ; 16(5): 505-513, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2051577
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES:

Among opioid use disorder (OUD)-treating providers, to characterize adaptations used to provide medications for OUD (MOUD) and factors associated with desire to continue virtual visits post-COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS:

In a national electronic survey of OUD-treating prescribers (July-August 2020), analyses restricted to X-waivered buprenorphine prescribers providing outpatient, longitudinal care for adults with OUD, quantitative and qualitative analyses of survey items and free text responses were conducted.

RESULTS:

Among 797 respondents, 49% were men, 57% ≥50 years, 76% White, 68% physicians. Respondents widely used virtual visits to continue prescribing existing MOUD regimens (79%), provide behavioral healthcare (71%), and initiate new MOUD prescriptions (49%). Most prescribers preferred to continue/expand use of virtual visits after COVID-19. In multivariable models, factors associated with preference to continue/expand virtual visits to initiate MOUD postpandemic were treating a moderate number of patients prepandemic (aOR = 1.67; 95%[CI] = 1.06,2.62) and practicing in an urban setting (aOR = 2.17; 95%[CI] = 1.48,3.18). Prescribing buprenorphine prepandemic (aOR = 2.06; 95%[CI] = 1.11,3.82) and working in an academic medical center (aOR = 2.47; 95%[CI] = 1.30,4.68) were associated with preference to continue/expand use of virtual visits to continue MOUD postpandemic. Prescribing naltrexone extended-release injection prepandemic was associated with preference to continue/expand virtual visits to initiate and continue MOUD (aOR = 1.51; 95%[CI] = 1.10,2.07; aOR = 1.74; 95%[CI] = 1.19,2.54). Qualitative findings suggest that providers appreciated virtual visits due to convenience and patient accessibility, but were concerned about liability and technological barriers.

CONCLUSIONS:

Surveyed prescribers widely used virtual visits to provide MOUD with overall positive experiences. Future studies should evaluate the impact of virtual visits on MOUD access and retention and clinical outcomes.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Buprenorphine / COVID-19 / Opioid-Related Disorders Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Topics: Long Covid Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: J Addict Med Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Buprenorphine / COVID-19 / Opioid-Related Disorders Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Topics: Long Covid Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: J Addict Med Year: 2022 Document Type: Article