TY - JOUR
AU - A. R. Williams
AU - S. V. Aronowitz
AU - C. Rowe
AU - R. Gallagher
AU - E. Behar
AU - A. Bisaga
A1 - 
AB - Background: Despite lifesaving medications such as buprenorphine and methadone, the majority of individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) face access barriers to evidence-based treatment. COVID-19 era regulatory reforms have shown that telehealth can improve access to care, although disparities in clinical outcomes are likely to persist.Objective: We aimed to analyze 180-day and 365-day retention in treatment with buprenorphine for OUD overall and by demographics, hypothesizing that retention would be lower among racial/ethnic minorities and rural patients.Methods: We analyzed data from a cohort of individuals with OUD enrolled in treatment from April 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, in Pennsylvania and New York using a virtual-first telehealth OUD treatment platform to assess rates of 180-day and 365-day retention. Associations between demographic characteristics and retention were assessed using unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models.Results: Among 1,378 patients (58.8% male), 180-day retention was 56.4%, and 365-day retention was 48.3%. Adjusted analyses found that only an association between older age and greater odds of 180-day retention was significant (aOR for patients aged 30-50 vs. <30: 1.83 [1.37-2.45]). There were no significant associations between sex, race/ethnicity, state, or rurality with retention.Conclusion: While we were unable to control for socioeconomic variables, we found retention within telehealth services for buprenorphine was high irrespective of geography or race/ethnicity, but disparities with age indicate a subset of patients who may benefit from more intensive services early in care.
AD - Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY.;Ophelia Health Inc., New York, NY.;University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA.
AN - 36961998
BT - Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse
C5 - HIT & Telehealth; Opioids & Substance Use; Healthcare Disparities
CP - 2
DA - Mar 4
DO - 10.1080/00952990.2023.2180382
DP - NLM
ET - 20230324
IS - 2
JF - Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse
LA - eng
N2 - Background: Despite lifesaving medications such as buprenorphine and methadone, the majority of individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) face access barriers to evidence-based treatment. COVID-19 era regulatory reforms have shown that telehealth can improve access to care, although disparities in clinical outcomes are likely to persist.Objective: We aimed to analyze 180-day and 365-day retention in treatment with buprenorphine for OUD overall and by demographics, hypothesizing that retention would be lower among racial/ethnic minorities and rural patients.Methods: We analyzed data from a cohort of individuals with OUD enrolled in treatment from April 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, in Pennsylvania and New York using a virtual-first telehealth OUD treatment platform to assess rates of 180-day and 365-day retention. Associations between demographic characteristics and retention were assessed using unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models.Results: Among 1,378 patients (58.8% male), 180-day retention was 56.4%, and 365-day retention was 48.3%. Adjusted analyses found that only an association between older age and greater odds of 180-day retention was significant (aOR for patients aged 30-50 vs. <30: 1.83 [1.37-2.45]). There were no significant associations between sex, race/ethnicity, state, or rurality with retention.Conclusion: While we were unable to control for socioeconomic variables, we found retention within telehealth services for buprenorphine was high irrespective of geography or race/ethnicity, but disparities with age indicate a subset of patients who may benefit from more intensive services early in care.
PY - 2023
SN - 0095-2990
SP - 260
EP - 265+
ST - Telehealth for opioid use disorder: retention as a function of demographics and rurality
T1 - Telehealth for opioid use disorder: retention as a function of demographics and rurality
T2 - Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse
TI - Telehealth for opioid use disorder: retention as a function of demographics and rurality
U1 - HIT & Telehealth; Opioids & Substance Use; Healthcare Disparities
U3 - 10.1080/00952990.2023.2180382
VL - 49
VO - 0095-2990
Y1 - 2023
ER -