Impact of telemedicine on retention in Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) treatment with buprenorphine in the times of COVID-19 pandemic: A retrospective chart review

ABSTRACT

This study reviewed the impact of telemedicine on treatment retention in Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) with buprenorphine treatment program during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Electronic health records of active patients in MOUD with buprenorphine treatment program were reviewed from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020. Data were divided into four groups of 3-months' time points to calculate and compare treatment retention in the baseline, pre-COVID, and in-COVID groups. The percentage of treatment retention with a 95% confidence interval was calculated using University of California San Franciso- Clinical and Translational Science Institute (UCSF-CTSI) sample size calculator tool. This study presents data suggesting that telemedicine is efficacious in retaining patients in MOUD. Telemedicine is an alternative to face-to-face treatment delivery for MOUD with buprenorphine treatment. It should be available to provide services after the pandemic as well. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement Addressing Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is essential to reduce individual and societal harms associated with drug overdoses. Because of the need for social isolation and social distancing related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in-person encounters in Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) with buprenorphine treatment programs were not feasible. This study suggests telemedicine as an alternative to in-person meetings and is efficacious in retaining patients in MOUD with buprenorphine treatment programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)