Provider Experiences and Preferences for Integrating an Evidence-Based Mobile Health Application in Methadone Maintenance Treatment: A Mixed-Methods Study

IF 2.9 3区医学 Q2 SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Drug and alcohol review Pub Date : 2026-09-16 DOI:10.1111/dar.70257

Bridget O'Kelly, Preeha Sohail, Nari Yoo, Hannah Zimmerman, Paige Miller, Anna B. Konova, Sean Murphy, Paul Glimcher, Babak Tofighi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

This study evaluated provider experiences and preferences for implementing mobile health (mHealth) tools in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), including the evidence-driven Smartphones for Opiate Addiction Recovery (SOAR) smartphone application.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted between August 2023 and July 2024 among MMT providers (N = 20) not previously exposed to the SOAR app. Providers viewed a video demonstrating the patient- and provider-facing user interfaces of the SOAR app. Interviews were guided by the Technology Acceptance Model and User Experience principles to inform design modifications and integration strategies for the SOAR app to reduce illicit opioid use and early treatment cessation among patients initiating methadone.

Results

Providers were favourable toward adopting mHealth tools, including the SOAR app, in MMT settings to improve patient monitoring, self-management during initiation on methadone, patient-provider communication, and between-visit supports. Potential barriers to SOAR app adoption included interoperability challenges with electronic medical records, limited staff time to complete app training, and disparities in patient mobile phone ownership and technology literacy. Preferences for improving the adoption of the SOAR app in MMT included: (i) app integration within the electronic medical records dashboard; (ii) app-based screening for social needs; (iii) providing clinical evidence of app efficacy to stakeholders to support adoption; and (iv) enhancing patient engagement with the app by linking gamified elements to tangible rewards.

Discussion and Conclusions

Findings among MMT program providers endorsed the potential for scaling the adoption of mHealth, including the SOAR app, in MMT to reduce illicit opioid use and early treatment discontinuation.

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在美沙酮维持治疗中整合循证移动健康应用的提供者经验和偏好：一项混合方法研究

本研究评估了在美沙酮维持治疗（MMT）中实施移动医疗（mHealth）工具的提供者的经验和偏好，包括证据驱动的阿片成瘾恢复智能手机（SOAR）智能手机应用程序。方法在2023年8月至2024年7月期间，对之前未接触过SOAR应用程序的MMT提供者（N = 20）进行了半结构化访谈。提供者观看了展示SOAR应用程序面向患者和面向提供者的用户界面的视频。访谈以技术接受模型和用户体验原则为指导，为SOAR应用程序的设计修改和整合策略提供信息，以减少非法阿片类药物的使用和早期治疗开始使用美沙酮的患者的戒烟。结果：医疗服务提供者倾向于在MMT环境中采用包括SOAR应用程序在内的移动医疗工具，以改善患者监测、美沙酮启动期间的自我管理、患者与医疗服务提供者之间的沟通和两次就诊之间的支持。采用SOAR应用程序的潜在障碍包括电子医疗记录的互操作性挑战，员工完成应用程序培训的时间有限，以及患者手机所有权和技术素养的差异。改善在MMT中采用SOAR应用程序的偏好包括：(i)在电子病历仪表板中集成应用程序；（ii）基于app的社交需求筛选；（iii）向利益相关者提供应用程序有效性的临床证据，以支持采用；（iv）通过将游戏化元素与有形奖励联系起来，提高患者对应用程序的参与度。MMT项目提供者的研究结果支持在MMT中扩大移动健康（包括SOAR应用程序）的采用，以减少非法阿片类药物的使用和早期停止治疗的潜力。

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来源期刊

Drug and alcohol review SUBSTANCE ABUSE-

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

10.50%

发文量

151

期刊介绍： Drug and Alcohol Review is an international meeting ground for the views, expertise and experience of all those involved in studying alcohol, tobacco and drug problems. Contributors to the Journal examine and report on alcohol and drug use from a wide range of clinical, biomedical, epidemiological, psychological and sociological perspectives. Drug and Alcohol Review particularly encourages the submission of papers which have a harm reduction perspective. However, all philosophies will find a place in the Journal: the principal criterion for publication of papers is their quality.