Randomised, pragmatic, waitlist controlled trial of cannabis added to prescription opioid support on opioid dose reduction and pain in adults with chronic non-cancer pain: study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic, non-cancer pain impacts approximately 50 million adults in the USA (20%), approximately 25% of whom receive chronic prescription opioids for pain despite limited empirical efficacy data and strong dose-related risk for opioid use disorder and opioid overdose. Also despite lack of efficacy data, there are many reports of people using cannabis products to manage chronic pain and replace or reduce chronic opioids. Here we describe the protocol for a randomised trial of the effect of cannabis, when added to a behavioural pain management and prescription opioid taper support programme, on opioid utilisation, pain intensity and pain interference. METHODS: This is a pragmatic, single-blind, randomised, wait-list controlled trial that aims to enrol 250 adults taking prescription opioids at stable doses of ≥25 morphine milligram equivalents per day for chronic non-cancer pain who express interest in using cannabis to reduce their pain, their opioid dose or both. All participants will be offered a weekly, 24-session Prescription Opioid Taper Support group behavioural pain management intervention. Participants will be randomly assigned in 1:1 ratio to use cannabis products, primarily from commercial cannabis dispensaries or to abstain from cannabis use for 6 months. Coprimary outcomes are change in prescription monitoring programme-verified opioid dose and change in Pain, Enjoyment, General Activity scale scores. Secondary outcomes include quality of life, depression, anxiety, self-reported opioid dose and opioid and cannabis use disorder symptoms. All other outcomes will be exploratory. We will record adverse events. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has ethical approval by the Massachusetts General Brigham Institutional Review Board (#2021P000871). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04827992.

Responding to COVID-19 through an integrated primary care/behavioral health program.

Background and Implementation: Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has presented unique challenges for patients and health care systems, including a surge in behavioral health (BH) needs. A community teaching public hospital system in Massachusetts (MA) whose 13 primary care (PC) clinics serve a diverse patient population, has developed a model for Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration (PCBHI) to provide brief, evidence-based interventions to patients in PC. In response to COVID-19, the system developed an intensive community management strategy to care for patients with COVID-19 outside of the hospital, and its PCBHI program adapted alongside this strategy to provide rapid support to patients in emotional distress. Over a 13-week period, 78 patients were specifically referred to the PCBHI COVID clinic and received rapid therapeutic support and/or care navigation. Recommendations: This article will discuss the development and implementation of the PCBHI COVID clinic, common presenting issues and clinical interventions used, and lessons that informed our adaptation of clinic operations and that can serve as recommendations to other health systems in establishing similar services. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration for Anxiety Management in a Safety-Net Health Care System.

This report describes the implementation of a primary care behavioral health integration program for anxiety management at Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), a safety-net health care system. Using a staged implementation process, CHA built upon existing capacities to create a comprehensive infrastructure for managing behavioral health conditions in primary care.

Implementing group visits for opioid use disorder: A case series.

Background: Group-based models of Office-Based Opioid Treatment with buprenorphine-naloxone (B/N) are increasingly being implemented in clinical practice to increase access to care and provide additional therapeutic benefits. While previous studies reported these Group-Based Opioid Treatment (GBOT) models are feasible for providers and acceptable to patients, there has been no literature to help providers with the more practical aspects of how to create and maintain GBOT in different outpatient settings. Case series: We present 4 cases of GBOT implementation across a large academic health care system, highlighting various potential approaches for providers who seek to implement GBOT and demonstrate "success" based on feasibility and sustainability of these models. For each case, we describe the pros and cons and detail the personnel and resources involved, patient mix and group format, workflow logistics, monitoring and management, and sustainability components. Discussion: The implementation details illustrate that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, although feasibility is commonly supported by a team-based, patient-centered medical home. This approach includes the capacity for referral to higher levels of mental health and addiction support services and is bolstered by ongoing provider communication and shared resources across the health system. Future research identifying the core and malleable components to implementation, their evidence base, and how they might be influenced by site-specific resources, culture, and other contextual factors can help providers better understand how to implement a GBOT model in their unique clinical environment.

Disparities in hospital smoking cessation treatment by immigrant status.

Despite the efficacy of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in promoting smoking cessation, no studies have been done to evaluate NRT prescribing rates among immigrants, a vulnerable minority population in the United States. The aim of this study is to explore for differences in NRT prescribing behavior by immigrant status. Participants were enrolled in a smoking cessation trial for hospitalized patients between July 2011 and April 2014 at two NYC hospitals. For this analysis, we used baseline data from patient surveys and electronic medical-record reviews to examine associations between immigrant status and prescription of NRT in-hospital and on discharge, as well as acceptance of NRT in-hospital. We included age, gender, education, health literacy, race, ethnicity, English language ability, inpatient service, and site insurance in the models as potential confounders. Our study population included 1,608 participants, of whom 21% were not born in the United States. Bivariate analysis found that nonimmigrants were more likely than immigrants to be prescribed NRT in the hospital (46.1% vs. 35.7%, p = .0006) and similarly on discharge (19.4% vs. 15.3%, p = .09). Both groups were equally likely to accept NRT in-hospital when prescribed. On multivariable analysis, being an immigrant (OR 0.65), Black race (OR 0.52), and Hispanic ethnicity (OR 0.63) were associated with lower likelihood of being prescribed NRT in-hospital. Multivariable analysis for provision of NRT prescription at discharge showed no significant difference between immigrants and nonimmigrants. These findings show differences in in-hospital smoking cessation treatment between immigrants and nonimmigrants.

Time Pressure During Primary Care Office Visits: a Prospective Evaluation of Data from the Healthy Work Place Study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between worklife factors, clinician outcomes, and time pressure during office visits is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To quantify associations between time pressure, workplace characteristics ,and clinician outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective analysis of data from the Healthy Work Place randomized trial. PARTICIPANTS: 168 physicians and advanced practice clinicians in 34 primary care practices in Upper Midwest and East Coast. MAIN MEASURES AND METHODS: Time pressure was present when clinicians needed more time than allotted to provide quality care. Other metrics included work control, work pace (calm to chaotic), organizational culture and clinician satisfaction, stress, burnout, and intent to leave the practice. Hierarchical analysis assessed relationships between time pressure, organizational characteristics, and clinician outcomes. Adjusted differences between clinicians with and without time pressure were expressed as effect sizes (ESs). KEY RESULTS: Sixty-seven percent of clinicians needed more time for new patients and 53% needed additional time for follow-up appointments. Time pressure in new patient visits was more prevalent in general internists than in family physicians (74% vs 55%, p < 0.05), women versus men (78% vs 55%, p < 0.01), and clinicians with larger numbers of complex psychosocial (81% vs 59%, p < 0.01) and Limited English Proficiency patients (95% vs 57%, p < 0.001). Time pressure in new patient visits was associated with lack of control, clinician stress, and intent to leave (ESs small to moderate, p < 0.05). Time pressure in follow-up visits was associated with chaotic workplaces and burnout (small to moderate ESs, p's < 0.05). Time pressure improved over time in workplaces with values alignment and an emphasis on quality. CONCLUSIONS: Time pressure, more common in women and general internists, was related to chaos, control and culture, and stress, burnout, and intent to leave. Future studies should evaluate these findings in larger and more geographically diverse samples.

Impact of Smoking Cessation Interventions Initiated During Hospitalization Among HIV-Infected Smokers.

INTRODUCTION: Smoking is a key determinant of mortality among people living with HIV (PLWH). METHODS: To better understand the effects of smoking cessation interventions in PLWH, we conducted a pooled analysis of four randomized controlled trials of hospital-initiated smoking interventions conducted through the Consortium of Hospitals Advancing Research on Tobacco (CHART). In each study, cigarette smokers were randomly assigned to usual care or a smoking cessation intervention. The primary outcome was self-reported past 30-day tobacco abstinence at 6-month follow-up. Abstinence rates were compared between PLWH and participants without HIV and by treatment arm, using both complete-case and intention-to-treat analyses. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the effect of HIV status on 6-month tobacco abstinence and to determine predictors of smoking cessation within PLWH. RESULTS: Among 5550 hospitalized smokers, there were 202 (3.6%) PLWH. PLWH smoked fewer cigarettes per day and were less likely to be planning to quit than smokers without HIV. At 6 months, cessation rates did not differ between intervention and control groups among PLWH (28.9% vs. 30.5%) or smokers without HIV (36.1% vs. 34.1%). In multivariable regression analysis, HIV status was not significantly associated with smoking cessation at 6 months. Among PLWH, confidence in quitting was the only clinical factor independently associated with smoking cessation (OR 2.0, 95% CI = 1.4 to 2.8, p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: HIV status did not alter likelihood of quitting smoking after hospital discharge, whether or not the smoker was offered a tobacco cessation intervention, but power was limited to identify potentially important differences. IMPLICATIONS: PLWH had similar quit rates to participants without HIV following a hospital-initiated smoking cessation intervention. The findings suggest that factors specific to HIV infection may not influence response to smoking cessation interventions and that all PLWH would benefit from efforts to assist in quitting smoking. TRIAL REGISTRATION: (1) Using "warm handoffs" to link hospitalized smokers with tobacco treatment after discharge: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial: NCT01305928. (2) Web-based smoking cessation intervention that transitions from inpatient to outpatient: NCT01277250. (3) Effectiveness of smoking-cessation interventions for urban hospital patients: NCT01363245. (4) Effectiveness of Post-Discharge Strategies for Hospitalized Smokers (HelpingHAND2): NCT01714323.

Building a Group-Based Opioid Treatment (GBOT) blueprint: a qualitative study delineating GBOT implementation.

BACKGROUND: Group-Based Opioid Treatment (GBOT) has recently emerged as a mechanism for treating patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) in the outpatient setting. However, the more practical "how to" components of successfully delivering GBOT has received little attention in the medical literature, potentially limiting its widespread implementation and utilization. Building on a previous case series, this paper delineates the key components to implementing GBOT by asking: (a) What are the core components to GBOT implementation, and how are they defined? (b) What are the malleable components to GBOT implementation, and what conceptual framework should providers use in determining how to apply these components for effective delivery in their unique clinical environment? METHODS: To create a blueprint delineating GBOT implementation, we integrated findings from a previously conducted and separately published systematic review of existing GBOT studies, conducted additional literature review, reviewed best practice recommendations and policies related to GBOT and organizational frameworks for implementing health systems change. We triangulated this data with a qualitative thematic analysis from 5 individual interviews and 2 focus groups representing leaders from 5 different GBOT programs across our institution to identify the key components to GBOT implementation, distinguish "core" and "malleable" components, and provide a conceptual framework for considering various options for implementing the malleable components. RESULTS: We identified 6 core components to GBOT implementation that optimize clinical outcomes, comply with mandatory policies and regulations, ensure patient and staff safety, and promote sustainability in delivery. These included consistent group expectations, team-based approach to care, safe and confidential space, billing compliance, regular monitoring, and regular patient participation. We identified 14 malleable components and developed a novel conceptual framework that providers can apply when deciding how to employ each malleable component that considers empirical, theoretical and practical dimensions. CONCLUSION: While further research on the effectiveness of GBOT and its individual implementation components is needed, the blueprint outlined here provides an initial framework to help office-based opioid treatment sites implement a successful GBOT approach and hence potentially serve as future study sites to establish efficacy of the model. This blueprint can also be used to continuously monitor how components of GBOT influence treatment outcomes, providing an empirical framework for the ongoing process of refining implementation strategies.

Characteristics of Health Care Organizations Associated With Clinician Trust: Results From the Healthy Work Place Study.

Importance: There is new emphasis on clinician trust in health care organizations but little empirical data about the association of trust with clinician satisfaction and retention. Objective: To examine organizational characteristics associated with trust. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort study uses data collected from 2012 to 2014 from 34 primary care practices employing physicians (family medicine and general internal medicine) and advanced practice clinicians (nurse practitioners and physician assistants) in the upper Midwest and East Coast of the United States as part of the Healthy Work Place randomized clinical trial. Analyses were performed from 2015 to 2016. Main Outcomes and Measures: Clinician trust was measured using a 5-item scale, including belonging, loyalty, safety focus, sense of trust, and responsibility to clinicians in need (range, 1-4, with 1 indicating low and 4 indicating high; Cronbach α = 0.77). Other metrics included work control, work atmosphere (calm to chaotic), organizational culture (cohesiveness, emphases on quality and communication, and values alignment; range, 1-4, with 1 indicating low and 4 indicating high), and clinician stress (range, 1-5, with 1 indicating low and 5 indicating high), satisfaction (range, 1-5, with 1 indicating low and 4 indicating high), burnout (range, 1-5, with 1 indicating no burnout and 5 indicating very high feeling of burnout), and intention to leave (range, 1-5, with 1 indicating no intention to leave and 5 indicating definite intention to leave). Analyses included 2-level hierarchical modeling controlling for age, sex, specialty, and clinician type. Cohen d effect sizes (ESs) were considered small at 0.20, moderate at 0.50, and large at 0.80 or more. Results: The study included 165 clinicians (mean [SD] age, 47.3 [9.2] years; 86 [52.1%] women). Of these, 143 (87.7%) were physicians and 22 (13.3%) were advanced practice clinicians; 105 clinicians (63.6%) worked in family medicine, and 60 clinicians (36.4%) worked in internal medicine. Compared with clinicians with low levels of trust, clinicians who reported high levels of trust had higher mean (SD) scores for work control (2.49 [0.52] vs 2.18 [0.45]; P < .001), cohesiveness (3.11 [0.46] vs 2.51 [0.51]; P < .001), emphasis on quality vs productivity (3.12 [0.48] vs 2.58 [0.41]; P < .001), emphasis on communication (3.39 [0.41] vs 3.01 [0.44]; P < .001), and values alignment (2.61 [0.59] vs 2.12 [0.52]; P < .001). Men were more likely than women to express loyalty (ES, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.05-0.66; P = .02) and high trust (ES, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.01-0.62; P = .04). Compared with clinicians with low trust at baseline, clinicians with high trust at baseline had a higher mean (SD) satisfaction score (3.99 [0.08] vs 3.51 [0.07]; P < .001; ES, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.39-1.02). Compared with clinicians in whom trust declined or remained low, clinicians with improved or stable high trust reported higher mean (SD) satisfaction (4.01 [0.07] vs 3.43 [0.06]; P < .001; ES, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.66-1.31) and lower stress (3.21 [0.09] vs 3.53 [0.09]; P = .02; ES, -0.39; 95% CI, -0.70 to -0.08) scores and had approximately half the odds of intending to leave (odds ratio, 0.481; 95% CI, 0.241-0.957; P = .04). Conclusions and Relevance: Addressing low levels of trust by improving work control and emphasizing quality, cohesion, communication, and values may improve clinician satisfaction, stress, and retention.

Augmenting Mental Health in Primary Care: A 1-Year Study of Deploying Smartphone Apps in a Multi-site Primary Care/Behavioral Health Integration Program.

Background: Integrating behavioral health (BH) services into primary care is an evidence-based intervention that can increase access to care, improve patient outcomes, and decrease costs. Digital technology, including smartphone apps, has the potential to augment and extend the reach of these integrated behavioral health services through self-management support impacting lifestyle behaviors. To date, the feasibility and acceptability of using mental health mobile apps within an integrated primary care setting has not yet been explored as part of routine clinical care. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to (a) test the feasibility of using mental health applications to augment integrated primary care services; (b) solicit feedback from patients and providers to guide implementation, and (c) develop a mental health apps toolkit for system-wide dissemination. Methods: Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) is a safety-net healthcare system that includes three community hospitals and 12 Primary Care (PC) clinics serving nearly 150,000 ethnically and socioeconomically diverse patients around Boston. To select and disseminate mental health apps, a four-phase implementation was undertaken: (1) Evaluation of mental health mobile applications (2) Development of an apps toolkit with stakeholder input, (3) Conducting initial pilot at six primary care locations, and (4) Rolling out the app toolkit across 12 primary care sites and conducting 1-year follow-up survey. Results: Among BH providers, 24 (75%) responded to the follow-up survey and 19 (83%) indicated they use apps as part of their clinical care. Anxiety was the most common condition for which app use was recommended by providers, and 10 (42%) expressed interest in further developing their knowledge of mental health apps. Among patients, 35 (65%) of participants provided feedback; 23 (66%) reported the tools to be helpful, especially for managing stress and anxiety. Conclusions: Our findings indicate mental health apps are applicable and relevant to patients within integrated primary care settings in safety-net health systems. Behavioral health providers perceive the clinical value of using these tools as part of patient care, but require training to increase their comfort-level and confidence applying these tools with patients. To increase provider and patient engagement, mobile apps must be accessible, simple, intuitive and directly relevant to patients' treatment needs.

Text message reminders for improving patient appointment adherence in an office-based buprenorphine program: A feasibility study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Missed visits are common in office-based buprenorphine treatment (OBOT). The feasibility of text message (TM) appointment reminders among OBOT patients is unknown. METHODS: This 6-month prospective cohort study provided TM reminders to OBOT program patients (N = 93). A feasibility survey was completed following delivery of TM reminders and at 6 months. RESULTS: Respondents reported that the reminders should be provided to all OBOT patients (100%) and helped them to adhere to their scheduled appointment (97%). At 6 months, there were no reports of intrusion to their privacy or disruption of daily activities due to the TM reminders. Most participants reported that the TM reminders were helpful in adhering to scheduled appointments (95%), that the reminders should be offered to all clinic patients (95%), and favored receiving only TM reminders rather than telephone reminders (95%). Barriers to adhering to scheduled appointment times included transportation difficulties (34%), not being able to take time off from school or work (31%), long clinic wait-times (9%), being hospitalized or sick (8%), feeling sad or depressed (6%), and child care (6%). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the acceptability and feasibility of TM appointment reminders in OBOT. Older age and longer duration in buprenorphine treatment did not diminish interest in receiving the TM intervention. Although OBOT patients expressed concern regarding the privacy of TM content sent from their providers, privacy issues were uncommon among this cohort. Scientific Significance Findings from this study highlighted patient barriers to adherence to scheduled appointments. These barriers included transportation difficulties (34%), not being able to take time off from school or work (31%), long clinic lines (9%), and other factors that may confound the effect of future TM appointment reminder interventions. Further research is also required to assess 1) the level of system changes required to integrate TM appointment reminder tools with already existing electronic medical records and appointment records software; 2) acceptability among clinicians and administrators; and 3) financial and resource constraints to healthcare systems. (Am J Addict 2017;26:581-586).

Does behavioral health integration improve primary care providers' perceptions of health-care system functioning and their own knowledge?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of behavioral health integration (BHI) on primary care providers' (PCPs') (1) perceptions of behavioral health (BH)-primary care (PC) system functioning and (2) perceptions of their own knowledge regarding how to manage, triage, and access help in caring for patients with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. METHODS: We implemented BHI based on evidence-based models consisting of seven elements: (1)Screening for mental health and substance use disorders, (2)Training of PC teams, (3)Integration of BH providers into PC teams, (4)Roll-out of unlicensed mental health care managers and establishment of a BH registry, (5)Psychiatry consult service, (6)Site-based BHI meetings, and (7)Site self assessments. The intervention was rolled out in early integration sites during two years and late integration sites during the subsequent two years. In this observational pre-post study, we administered an anonymous online survey annually to PCPs; 381 PCPs at 11 primary care clinics participated. RESULTS: The proportion of PCPs with high perceived BH-PC systems functioning scores quadrupled from 14% to 55% (p<0.0001) and high perceived knowledge scores increased from 63 to 85% (p<0.001). Larger increases were demonstrated in early integration sites during the first two years and in late integration sites during the latter two years of the survey. Adjusting for participant and site level characteristics did not change these outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: BHI improves PCP perceptions of BH-PC system functioning and perceptions of knowledge.

Public sector low threshold office-based buprenorphine treatment: outcomes at year 7.

BACKGROUND: Buprenorphine maintenance for opioid dependence remains of limited availability among underserved populations, despite increases in US opioid misuse and overdose deaths. Low threshold primary care treatment models including the use of unobserved, "home," buprenorphine induction may simplify initiation of care and improve access. Unobserved induction and long-term treatment outcomes have not been reported recently among large, naturalistic cohorts treated in low threshold safety net primary care settings. METHODS: This prospective clinical registry cohort design estimated rates of induction-related adverse events, treatment retention, and urine opioid results for opioid dependent adults offered buprenorphine maintenance in a New York City public hospital primary care office-based practice from 2006 to 2013. This clinic relied on typical ambulatory care individual provider-patient visits, prescribed unobserved induction exclusively, saw patients no more than weekly, and did not require additional psychosocial treatment. Unobserved induction consisted of an in-person screening and diagnostic visit followed by a 1-week buprenorphine written prescription, with pamphlet, and telephone support. Primary outcomes analyzed were rates of induction-related adverse events (AE), week 1 drop-out, and long-term treatment retention. Factors associated with treatment retention were examined using a Cox proportional hazard model among inductions and all patients. Secondary outcomes included overall clinic retention, buprenorphine dosages, and urine sample results. RESULTS: Of the 485 total patients in our registry, 306 were inducted, and 179 were transfers already on buprenorphine. Post-induction (n = 306), week 1 drop-out was 17%. Rates of any induction-related AE were 12%; serious adverse events, 0%; precipitated withdrawal, 3%; prolonged withdrawal, 4%. Treatment retention was a median 38 weeks (range 0-320) for inductions, compared to 110 (0-354) weeks for transfers and 57 for the entire clinic population. Older age, later years of first clinic visit (vs. 2006-2007), and baseline heroin abstinence were associated with increased treatment retention overall. CONCLUSIONS: Unobserved "home" buprenorphine induction in a public sector primary care setting appeared a feasible and safe clinical practice. Post-induction treatment retention of a median 38 weeks was in line with previous naturalistic studies of real-world office-based opioid treatment. Low threshold treatment protocols, as compared to national guidelines, may compliment recently increased prescriber patient limits and expand access to buprenorphine among public sector opioid use disorder patients.

Long-term abstinence and predictors of tobacco treatment uptake among hospitalized smokers with serious mental illness enrolled in a smoking cessation trial.

Hospital patients with serious mental illness (SMI) have high rates of smoking. There are few post-discharge treatment models available for this population and limited research on their treatment uptake following discharge. This study is a secondary analysis of an RCT that compared multi-session intensive telephone counseling versus referral to state quitline counseling at two safety net hospitals in New York City. For this analysis, we selected all trial participants with a history of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder (N = 384) and used multivariable logistic regression to compare groups on self-reported 30-day abstinence at 6 months and to identify patient factors associated with use of tobacco treatment. Analyses found no significant group differences in abstinence 6 months (28% quitline vs. 29% intervention, p > 0.05), use of cessation medications (42% quitline vs. 47% intervention, p > 0.05) or receipt of at least one counseling call (47% quitline vs. 42% intervention, p > 0.05). Patients with hazardous drinking (p = 0.04) or perceived good health (p = 0.03) were less likely to use cessation medications. Homeless patients were less likely to use counseling (p = 0.02). Most patients did not use cessation treatment after discharge, and the intensive intervention did not improve abstinence rates over quitline referral. Interventions are needed to improve use of cessation treatment and long-term abstinence in patients with SMI.

Do Work Condition Interventions Affect Quality and Errors in Primary Care? Results from the Healthy Work Place Study.

BACKGROUND: While primary care work conditions are associated with adverse clinician outcomes, little is known about the effect of work condition interventions on quality or safety. DESIGN: A cluster randomized controlled trial of 34 clinics in the upper Midwest and New York City. PARTICIPANTS: Primary care clinicians and their diabetic and hypertensive patients. INTERVENTIONS: Quality improvement projects to improve communication between providers, workflow design, and chronic disease management. Intervention clinics received brief summaries of their clinician and patient outcome data at baseline. MAIN MEASURES: We measured work conditions and clinician and patient outcomes both at baseline and 6-12 months post-intervention. Multilevel regression analyses assessed the impact of work condition changes on outcomes. Subgroup analyses assessed impact by intervention category. KEY RESULTS: There were no significant differences in error reduction (19 % vs. 11 %, OR of improvement 1.84, 95 % CI 0.70, 4.82, p = 0.21) or quality of care improvement (19 % improved vs. 44 %, OR 0.62, 95 % CI 0.58, 1.21, p = 0.42) between intervention and control clinics. The conceptual model linking work conditions, provider outcomes, and error reduction showed significant relationships between work conditions and provider outcomes (p ≤ 0.001) and a trend toward a reduced error rate in providers with lower burnout (OR 1.44, 95 % CI 0.94, 2.23, p = 0.09). LIMITATIONS: Few quality metrics, short time span, fewer clinicians recruited than anticipated. CONCLUSIONS: Work-life interventions improving clinician satisfaction and well-being do not necessarily reduce errors or improve quality. Longer, more focused interventions may be needed to produce meaningful improvements in patient care. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT02542995.

Smoking-Cessation Interventions for Urban Hospital Patients: A Randomized Comparative Effectiveness Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Hospitalization is a unique opportunity for smoking cessation, but prior interventions have measured efficacy with narrowly defined populations. The objective of this study was to enroll smokers admitted to two "safety net" hospitals and compare the effectiveness of two post-discharge cessation interventions. DESIGN: A randomized comparative effectiveness trial was conducted. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: At two New York City public hospitals, every hospitalized patient identified as a smoker (based on admission records) was approached. Inclusion criteria were: smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days; spoke English, Spanish, or Mandarin; had a U.S. phone number; not discharged to an institution where follow-up or smoking was limited; and not pregnant/breastfeeding. Of 18,797 patients identified as current smokers between July 2011 and April 2014, a total of 3,047 (16%) were discharged before being approached, 3,273 (17%) were not current smokers, 4,026 (21%) had no U.S. phone number, 2,831 (15%) were ineligible for other reasons, and 3,983 (21%) refused participation. In total, 1,618 (9%) participants enrolled in the study. During follow-up, 69% of participants were reached at 2 months and 68% at 6 months. INTERVENTION: At discharge, participants were randomized to multisession telephone counseling from study staff (n=804) or referral to the state quitline for proactive outreach and counseling (n=814). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported abstinence at 6 months was measured. Analyses were conducted in late 2015. RESULTS: One quarter of participants were homeless or in unstable housing, 60% had a history of substance abuse, 43% reported current hazardous drinking, and half had a psychiatric diagnosis other than substance abuse. At follow-up, the rate of abstinence (30-day point prevalence) was higher in the intensive counseling arm than the quitline arm at 2 months (29.0% vs 20.7%; relative risk=1.40; 95% CI=1.13, 1.73) and 6 months (37.4% vs 31.5%; relative risk=1.19; 95% CI=1.01, 1.40). CONCLUSIONS: Intensive counseling was more effective than referral to the state quitline. Long-term abstinence was excellent in both groups. Many patients were not eligible for enrollment despite minimal exclusion criteria. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01363245.

Mobile Phone Messaging During Unobserved "Home" Induction to Buprenorphine.

The deployment of health information technologies promises to optimize clinical outcomes for populations with substance use disorders. Electronic health records, web-based counseling interventions, and mobile phone applications enhance the delivery of evidence-based behavioral and pharmacological treatments, with minimal burden to clinical personnel, infrastructure, and work flows. This clinical case shares a recent experience utilizing mobile phone text messaging between an office-based buprenorphine provider in a safety net ambulatory clinic and a patient seeking buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder. The case highlights the use of text message-based physician-patient communication to facilitate unobserved "home" induction onto buprenorphine.

Text message content preferences to improve buprenorphine maintenance treatment in primary care.

Few studies have evaluated text message content preferences to support evidence-based treatment approaches for opioid use disorders, and none in primary care office-based buprenorphine treatment settings. This study assessed the acceptability and preferences for a tailored text message intervention in support of core office-based buprenorphine treatment medical management components (e.g., treatment adherence, encouraging abstinence, 12-step group participation, motivational interviewing, and patient-provider communication as needed). There were 97 patients enrolled in a safety net office-based buprenorphine treatment program who completed a 24-item survey instrument that consisted of multiple-choice responses, 7-point Likert-type scales, binomial "Yes/No" questions, and open-ended responses. The sample was predominately male (81%), had an average age of 46 years, and was diverse (64% ethnic/racial minorities); 56% lacked stable employment. Respondents were interested in receiving text message appointment reminders (90%), information pertaining to their buprenorphine treatment (76%), supportive content (70%), and messages to reduce the risk of relapse (88%). Participants preferred to receive relapse prevention text messages during all phases of treatment: immediately after induction into buprenorphine treatment (81%), a "few months" into treatment (57%), and after discontinuing buprenorphine treatment (72%). Respondents also expressed interest in text message content enhancing self-efficacy, social support, and frequent provider communication to facilitate unobserved "home" induction with buprenorphine. Older participants were significantly less receptive to receiving text message appointment reminders; however, they were as interested in receiving supportive, informational, and relapse prevention components compared to younger respondents. Implications for integrating a text message support system in office-based buprenorphine treatment are discussed.