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Primary Care Providers' Experiences Treating Opioid Use Disorder Using Telehealth in the Height of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Marshall, Sarah Alexandra; Siebenmorgen, Lachan E; Youngen, Katherine; Borders, Tyrone; Zaller, Nickolas.
Afiliação
  • Marshall SA; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
  • Siebenmorgen LE; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
  • Youngen K; University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
  • Borders T; University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
  • Zaller N; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
J Prim Care Community Health ; 15: 21501319241246359, 2024.
Article em En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38600789
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a rapid shift in healthcare delivery towards telehealth services, impacting patient care, including opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. Regulatory changes eliminated the in-person evaluation requirement for buprenorphine treatment, encouraging adoption of telehealth. This study focused on understanding experiences of primary care providers in predominantly rural areas who used telehealth for OUD treatment during the pandemic.

METHODS:

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 primary care providers. Participants practiced in 13 rural and 9 urban counties in Kentucky and Arkansas. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis.

RESULTS:

The pandemic significantly impacted healthcare delivery. While telehealth was integrated for behavioral health counseling, in-person visits remained crucial, especially for urine drug screenings. Telehealth experiences varied, with some facing technology issues, while others found it efficient. Telehealth proved valuable for behavioral health counseling and sustaining relationships with established patients. Patients with OUD faced unique challenges, including housing, internet, transportation, and counseling needs. Stigma surrounding OUD affected clinical relationships. Building strong patient-provider relationships emerged as a central theme, emphasizing the value of face-to-face interactions. Regarding buprenorphine training, most found waiver training helpful but lacked formal education.

CONCLUSION:

This research offers vital guidance for improving OUD treatment services, especially in rural areas during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights telehealth's value as a tool while acknowledging its limitations. The study underscores the significance of strong patient-provider relationships, the importance of reducing stigma, and the potential for training programs to elevate quality of care in OUD treatment.
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Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Contexto em Saúde: 11_ODS3_cobertura_universal / 2_ODS3 / 4_TD / 8_ODS3_consumo_sustancias_psicoactivas Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Buprenorfina / Telemedicina / COVID-19 / Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Opioides Limite: Humans Idioma: En Revista: J Prim Care Community Health Ano de publicação: 2024 Tipo de documento: Article

Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Contexto em Saúde: 11_ODS3_cobertura_universal / 2_ODS3 / 4_TD / 8_ODS3_consumo_sustancias_psicoactivas Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Buprenorfina / Telemedicina / COVID-19 / Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Opioides Limite: Humans Idioma: En Revista: J Prim Care Community Health Ano de publicação: 2024 Tipo de documento: Article