Literature Collection

Background: Hub and spoke systems (HSS) are increasingly promoted as a systems-level intervention to expand access to medication for opioid use disorders (MOUD), particularly in rural areas with limited treatment options. The HSS model consists of sub-systems in which "hubs" deliver specialized expertise to a regional network of office-based opioid treatment (OBOT) providers in "spokes," who together create a continuum of acute and chronic care. Yet, little is known about system-level factors (e.g., system structure, financing) that influence HSS implementation and sustainability in rural areas. Methods: For this case study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with substance use disorder treatment providers (N = 26) and system-level stakeholders (N = 16) in five rural HSS sub-systems throughout one state. We undertook iterative textual analysis of interview transcripts, identifying and coding themes related to key implementation constructs associated with the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation and Sustainability (EPIS) framework. Results: California policy-makers adopted HSS to expand rural access to opioid treatment programs (OTPs, i.e., providers of methadone and other medications for opioid use disorder). However, stakeholders questioned the model's fit for rural regions featuring few established OTPs that could function as hubs and critiqued its treatment-focused approach, felt to sideline harm reduction service providers. Contracts to serve rural regions were awarded entirely to for-profit methadone providers, contributing to stigma and distrust among many buprenorphine providers whose organizations were later recruited as spokes. While hubs offered financial resources enabling some spokes to expand MOUD, the needs of spokes varied considerably. Relationships between hubs and spokes to facilitate the care continuum under HSS were restricted by limited behavioral health resources and the large distances characterizing rural California. Conclusions: This case study reveals how rural contextual factors such as geography and behavioral healthcare resource availability can dramatically influence differential HSS implementation.

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials provide consistent evidence for buprenorphine's efficacy in treating opioid use disorder (OUD). While the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 requires physicians to combine medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with behavioral intervention, there is no clear evidence for what form or elements of psychotherapy are most effective when coupled with MAT to treat OUD. This investigation involves focus groups designed to collect patient opinions about a specific psychotherapy, called START NOW, as well as general beliefs about various elements of psychotherapy for treating OUD. Our analysis reveals trends about patient preferences and strategies for improving OUD treatment. METHODS: Subjects included patients enrolled in buprenorphine/naloxone MAT at our institution's office-based opioid treatment program. All subjects participated in a single START NOW group session, which was led by a provider (physician or nurse practitioner trained and standardized in delivering START NOW). Consented subjects participated in satisfaction surveys and audio-recorded focus groups assessing individual beliefs about various elements of psychotherapy for treating OUD. RESULTS: Overall, 38 different focus groups, 92 participation events, and 44 unique subjects participated in 1-to-6 different START NOW session/audio-recorded focus group sessions led by a certified moderator. Demographic data from 36/44 subjects was collected. Seventy-five percent (33/44) completed the START NOW Assessment Protocol, which revealed self-reported behavioral trends. Analysis of all 92 START NOW Satisfaction Questionnaire results suggests that subjects' opinions about START NOW improved with increased participation. Our analysis of audio-recorded focus groups is divided into three subsections: content strategies for new psychotherapies, implementation strategies, and other observations. For example, participants request psychotherapies to target impulsivity and to teach future planning and build positive relationships. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study may guide implementation of psychotherapy and improve the treatment of OUD, especially as it relates to improving the modified START NOW program for treating OUD. Our study also reveals a favorable outlook of START NOW with increased participation, suggesting that any initial reticence to this program can be overcome to allow for effective implementation.

IMPORTANCE: In response to the increase in opioid overdose deaths in the United States, many states recently have implemented supply-controlling and harm-reduction policy measures. To date, an updated policy evaluation that considers the full policy landscape has not been conducted. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate 6 US state-level drug policies to ascertain whether they are associated with a reduction in indicators of prescription opioid abuse, the prevalence of opioid use disorder and overdose, the prescription of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and drug overdose deaths. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study used drug overdose mortality data from 50 states obtained from the National Vital Statistics System and claims data from 23 million commercially insured patients in the US between 2007 and 2018. Difference-in-differences analysis using panel matching was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of indicators of prescription opioid abuse, opioid use disorder and overdose diagnosis, the prescription of MAT, and drug overdose deaths before and after implementation of 6 state-level policies targeting the opioid epidemic. A random-effects meta-analysis model was used to summarize associations over time for each policy and outcome pair. The data analysis was conducted July 12, 2020. EXPOSURES: State-level drug policy changes to address the increase of opioid-related overdose deaths included prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) access, mandatory PDMPs, pain clinic laws, prescription limit laws, naloxone access laws, and Good Samaritan laws. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The outcomes of interests were quarterly state-level mortality from drug overdoses, known indicators for prescription opioid abuse and doctor shopping, MAT, and prevalence of drug overdose and opioid use disorder. RESULTS: This cross-sectional study of drug overdose mortality data and insurance claims data from 23 million commercially insured patients (12 582 378 female patients [55.1%]; mean [SD] age, 45.9 [19.9] years) in the US between 2007 and 2018 found that mandatory PDMPs were associated with decreases in the proportion of patients taking opioids (-0.729%; 95% CI, -1.011% to -0.447%), with overlapping opioid claims (-0.027%; 95% CI, -0.038% to -0.017%), with daily morphine milligram equivalent greater than 90 (-0.095%; 95% CI, -0.150% to -0.041%), and who engaged in drug seeking (-0.002%; 95% CI, -0.003% to -0.001%). The proportion of patients receiving MAT increased after the enactment of mandatory PDMPs (0.015%; 95% CI, 0.002% to 0.028%), pain clinic laws (0.013%, 95% CI, 0.005%-0.021%), and prescription limit laws (0.034%, 95% CI, 0.020% to 0.049%). Mandatory PDMPs were associated with a decrease in the number of overdose deaths due to natural opioids (-518.5 [95% CI, -728.5 to -308.5] per 300 million people) and methadone (-122.7 [95% CI, -207.5 to -37.8] per 300 million people). Prescription drug monitoring program access policies showed similar results, although these policies were also associated with increases in overdose deaths due to synthetic opioids (380.3 [95% CI, 149.6-610.8] per 300 million people) and cocaine (103.7 [95% CI, 28.0-179.5] per 300 million people). Except for the negative association between prescription limit laws and synthetic opioid deaths (-723.9 [95% CI, -1419.7 to -28.1] per 300 million people), other policies were associated with increasing overdose deaths, especially those attributed to non-prescription opioids such as synthetic opioids and heroin. This includes a positive association between naloxone access laws and the number of deaths attributed to synthetic opioids (1338.2 [95% CI, 662.5 to 2014.0] per 300 million people). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Although this study found that existing state policies were associated with reduced misuse of prescription opioids, they may have the unintended consequence of motivating those with opioid use disorders to access the illicit drug market, potentially increasing overdose mortality. This finding suggests that there is no easy policy solution to reverse the epidemic of opioid dependence and mortality in the US.

OBJECTIVE: Cognitive-behavioral (CBT) interventions combined with either a physical activity (CBT+PA) or exercise intervention (CBT+Ex) are becoming more common in pediatric populations. Considering the independent effects of PA and exercise on health and psychological outcomes, it is unclear whether CBT alone differs from CBT+PA or CBT+Ex in efficacy. The main objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) was to assess the efficacy of CBT+PA and CBT+Ex interventions in pediatric chronic disease. METHOD: This review included RCTs in children (≤18 years) with a chronic condition, a CBT+Ex or CBT+PA intervention, and an objective measure of PA&Ex. Seven databases were searched using MeSH terms and key terms and included studies published before July 1, 2023. Abstracts were reviewed for inclusion by two independent reviewers, data was extracted by three independent reviewers. Risk of bias (RoB 2) and study quality were coded. Random effect meta-analyses of differences in between-group change in PA&Ex were conducted. RESULTS: Eligible studies (k = 5) reported outcomes for a combined 446 children. A small, nonsignificant overall effect was found (d = 0.10, 95% CI -0.16, 0.35) indicating intervention groups (CBT+PA or CBT+Ex) increased engagement in PA&Ex more than comparator groups (CBT). Additional analyses were inconclusive due to the small number of eligible studies. DISCUSSION: Additional RCTs are needed with integrated PA&Ex interventions targeting pediatric chronic disease. Future trials should report more detailed PA&Ex data. The full protocol for this analysis was prospectively registered in Open Science Framework (project ID: osf.io/m4wtc).

OBJECTIVES: In survivors of illnesses or surgeries requiring PICU admission, there is a risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We aimed to estimate PTSD prevalence and potential contributing factors in survivors of PICU admission. DATA SOURCES: We performed a PROSPERO registered systematic review (CRD42022348997; Registered August 2022) using MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases, 2000 to 2022, with no language restrictions. STUDY SELECTION: Observational or interventional studies evaluating the incidence or prevalence of PTSD in patients' after PICU admission and/or contributing factors to PTSD. We used studies describing patients younger than 18 years old. Since there were a large number of citations, we used an integrated crowdsourcing and machine-learning model for citation screening. Each citation was reviewed independently and in duplicate by two reviewers at each stage of screening and abstraction. DATA EXTRACTION: Data items included study and participant demographics, details of case definition (PTSD screening), and risk factors. DATA SYNTHESIS: We followed the Preferred Reporting items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines. Random-effects models were used to analyze PTSD prevalence and subgroup differences. In 24 citations meeting final review criteria, 19 had data for meta-analysis. There were 1898 PICU survivors with a median (interquartile range) cohort size of 59 (49-76). PTSD prevalence in the studies ranged from 3% to 37%; PTSD occurred in 529 of 1898 survivors ( I2 = 72%). Factors influencing PTSD variability included timing of assessment ( p < 0.01) with the highest prevalence (29%) at 6 months and the type of assessment instrument ( n = 10; range, 4-27%; p = 0.04). There was lower prevalence of PTSD (8%) in postoperative cardiac patients ( p < 0.01). Last, we failed to find an association between PICU length of stay and PTSD prevalence ( p = 0.62; I2 = 80%). CONCLUSIONS: PICU follow-up studies from 2000 to 2022 indicate that one-in-three of admissions surviving to 6 months have PTSD. However, there are population, study design factors and heterogeneity in PTSD assessment that indicate more standardization in this research is needed.

BACKGROUND: Opioid use is a significant problem in Alaska. Medication-assisted treatment for opioid use, including buprenorphine, reduces withdrawal symptoms and the harm associated with opioid abuse. Understanding consumers' treatment-seeking process is important for addressing barriers to treatment, facilitating effective service utilization, and informing policy. METHODS: To understand treatment-seeking behavior, we examined the attitudes, perceptions, and knowledge of those who would benefit from the medication-assisted treatment (MAT) buprenorphine. Qualitative data from 2 focus groups (each including 4 participants) and 3 in-depth interviews with people who have used or considered using buprenorphine in treatment for an opioid use disorder were analyzed using grounded theory and directed content analysis approaches. RESULTS: Key findings suggest that individual (withdrawal process, individual motivation) and systemic (sociocultural, political, societal values) factors frame the treatment seeking process. Participants' progress on the treatment-seeking road was affected by models of addiction and MAT, which related to facilitators and barriers encountered in seeking treatment (e.g. support, resources, treatment structure). These factors shaped the longer-term road to recovery, which was seen as on ongoing process. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest it is crucial for interventionists to take a contextual approach that considers individual and systemic factors involved in opioid addiction, treatment, and recovery. This study highlights ways policy makers and treatment providers can address the barriers consumers face in their treatment-seeking process in order to increase treatment access.

Primary Health Networks (PHNs) are a new institution for health systems management in the Australian healthcare system. PHNs will play a key role in mental health reform through planning and commissioning primary mental health services at a regional level, specifically adopting a stepped care approach. Selected PHNs are also trialling a healthcare homes approach. Little is known about the systems levers that could be applied by PHNs to achieve these aims. A rapid review of academic and grey literature published between 2006 and 2016 was undertaken to describe the use of systems levers in commissioning primary care services. Fifty-six documents met the inclusion criteria, including twelve specific to primary mental healthcare. Twenty-six levers were identified. Referral management, contracts and tendering processes, and health information systems were identified as useful levers for implementing stepped care approaches. Location, enrolment, capitation and health information systems were identified as useful in implementing a healthcare homes approach. Other levers were relevant to overall health system functioning. Further work is needed to develop a robust evidence-base for systems levers. PHNs can facilitate this by documenting and evaluating the levers that they deploy, and making their findings available to researchers and other commissioning bodies.