Understanding the financial barriers to treatment among individuals with opioid use disorder: a focus group study.

IF 4 2区社会学 Q1 SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Harm Reduction Journal Pub Date : 2024-12-20 DOI:10.1186/s12954-024-01133-4

Precious Anyanwu, Olajumoke A Olateju, Vaishnavi Tata, Tyler Varisco, Lauren R Gilbert, Motolani E Ogunsanya, E James Essien, Michael L Johnson, J Douglas Thornton

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction: Despite the established effectiveness and relatively widespread availability of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder, individuals seeking treatment frequently encounter various structural and social barriers, including costs of treatment. This study aimed to understand the financial barriers that affect treatment continuation in individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD).

Methods: In this qualitative study, seven semi-structured in-depth focus group interviews were conducted among 28 participants in treatment for OUD. Basic demographic information were collected in a pre-focus group survey. Focus group interviews were conducted from December 2021 to February 2022. A moderator guide was used to facilitate the discussion. Transcripts were managed using ATLAS.ti© v7. Data collected from the focus groups underwent deductive thematic analysis.

Results: Data saturation was reached in 7 focus groups with a total of 28 participants (17 [60.7%] women; 27 [96.4%] white; 24 [85.7%] non-Hispanic). All three medications for OUD were represented (18 [64.3%] buprenorphine and naloxone, 5 [17.9%] methadone, 3 [10.7%] naltrexone, and 2 [7.1%] buprenorphine) and the time in treatment ranged from 1 month to over 36 months. Nearly all participants (27 [96.4%]) indicated a financial barrier that led to delayed treatment initiation and treatment retention. Two themes were identified from the focus group interviews: (1) OUD treatment-related financial burden- the direct and indirect cost associated with the treatment, and (2) psychosocial effects associated with the cost of OUD treatment -the mental, emotional, and social effects of the disease.

Conclusions: Most participants described the desire and need for resources to offset the unaffordable cost that inhibits treatment initiation and retention. Further work is required to help identify individuals susceptible to financial barriers that can lead to early discontinuation in treatment.

查看原文本刊更多论文

了解阿片类药物使用障碍患者治疗的经济障碍：焦点小组研究。

导言：尽管阿片类药物使用障碍药物的有效性和相对广泛的可得性，但寻求治疗的个人经常遇到各种结构和社会障碍，包括治疗费用。本研究旨在了解影响阿片类药物使用障碍（OUD）患者继续治疗的经济障碍。方法：在本定性研究中，对28名OUD治疗参与者进行了7次半结构化的深度焦点小组访谈。基本的人口统计信息是通过预先焦点小组调查收集的。焦点小组访谈于2021年12月至2022年2月进行。一份主持人指南被用来促进讨论。转录本使用ATLAS进行管理。ti©v7。从焦点小组收集的数据进行了演绎主题分析。结果：7个焦点组共28人达到数据饱和，其中女性17人[60.7%]；27[96.4%]白色；24[85.7%]非西班牙裔)。治疗OUD的3种药物（丁丙诺啡和纳洛酮18例[64.3%]，美沙酮5例[17.9%]，纳曲酮3例[10.7%]，丁丙诺啡2例[7.1%]），治疗时间从1个月到36个月以上不等。几乎所有的参与者（27名[96.4%]）都表示经济障碍导致延迟治疗开始和治疗保留。焦点小组访谈确定了两个主题：(1)与OUD治疗相关的经济负担——与治疗相关的直接和间接成本；(2)与OUD治疗成本相关的社会心理影响——疾病的精神、情感和社会影响。结论：大多数参与者描述了对资源的渴望和需求，以抵消抑制治疗开始和保持的负担不起的费用。需要进一步的工作，以帮助确定易受经济障碍影响的个体，这些障碍可能导致早期停止治疗。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Harm Reduction Journal Medicine-Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

CiteScore

5.90

自引率

9.10%

发文量

126

审稿时长

26 weeks

期刊介绍： Harm Reduction Journal is an Open Access, peer-reviewed, online journal whose focus is on the prevalent patterns of psychoactive drug use, the public policies meant to control them, and the search for effective methods of reducing the adverse medical, public health, and social consequences associated with both drugs and drug policies. We define "harm reduction" as "policies and programs which aim to reduce the health, social, and economic costs of legal and illegal psychoactive drug use without necessarily reducing drug consumption". We are especially interested in studies of the evolving patterns of drug use around the world, their implications for the spread of HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne pathogens.