Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 Jan;46(1):36-42.
doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2013.08.009. Epub 2013 Sep 12.

A randomized trial of Web-based videoconferencing for substance abuse counseling

Van L King  1 , Robert K Brooner, Jessica M Peirce, Ken Kolodner, Michael S Kidorf
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A randomized trial of Web-based videoconferencing for substance abuse counseling

Van L King et al. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2014 Jan.

Abstract

Web-based videoconferencing can improve access to substance abuse treatment by allowing patients to receive counseling services in their homes. This randomized clinical trial evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of Web-based videoconferencing in community opioid treatment program (OTP) participants. Participants that reported computer and Internet access (n=85) were randomly assigned to receive 12weeks of weekly individual counseling in-person or via eGetgoing, a Web-based videoconferencing platform. Fifty-nine of these participants completed the study (eGetgoing=24; in-person=35), with most study withdrawal occurring among eGetgoing participants. Participants exposed to the study conditions had similar rates of counseling attendance and drug-positive urinalysis results, and reported similar and strong ratings of treatment satisfaction and therapeutic alliance. These results support the feasibility and acceptability of Web-based counseling as a good method to extend access to individual substance abuse counseling when compared to in-person counseling for patients that are able to maintain a computer and Internet connection for reliable communication.

Keywords: Methadone maintenance; Substance abuse treatment; Therapeutic alliance; Treatment satisfaction; Web-based videoconferencing.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
. CONSORT diagram.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Alcohol Research Group. Vernon ML. A review of computer-based alcohol problem services designed for the general public. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2011;38(3):203–211. PMID: 20015607. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Backhaus A, Agha Z, Maglione ML, Repp A, Ross B, Zuest D, Rice-Thorp NM, Lohr J, Thorp SR. Videoconferencing psychotherapy: a systematic review. Psychological Services. 2012;9(2):111–131. - PubMed
    1. Ball JC, Ross A. The effectiveness of methadone maintenance treatment. Springer- Verlag; New York: 1991.
    1. Brooner RK, King VL, Kidorf MS, Schmidt CW, Bigelow GE. Psychiatric and substance use comorbidity among treatment-seeking opioid abusers. Archives of General Psychiatry. 1997;54:71–80. - PubMed
    1. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment . Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction in Opioid Treatment Programs. TIP Series 43. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; Rockville, MD: 2005. DHHS Publication no. (SMA) 05-4048. - PubMed

Publication types