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. 2024 Dec 18;12(24):2554.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare12242554.

Patient Engagement in Providing Telehealth SUD IOP Treatment: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Joanna Contreras-Schwartz  1 , Conor O'Neill  1 , Annelise Threlkeld  1 , Erin O'Callaghan  1 , Mirene Winsberg  1
Affiliations

Patient Engagement in Providing Telehealth SUD IOP Treatment: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Joanna Contreras-Schwartz et al. Healthcare (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) remain a growing public health issue, with drug- and alcohol-related deaths continuing to increase. A myriad of barriers prevent many with SUDs from seeking care. Telehealth interventions are well-positioned to reduce barriers and increase engagement in SUD treatment. The SUD intensive outpatient program (IOP) is specifically designed for telehealth and offers evidenced-based care delivered by SUD professionals as well as asynchronous assignments to enhance treatment. This study explores the feasibility of providing a telehealth IOP.

Methods: participant engagement, reasons for disengagement, and days of abstinence were examined using existing records from a cohort of participants between 2021 and 2023 (n = 4724).

Results: Nearly 80% of participants remained engaged in the program for 30 days, and 91% attained at least 30 consecutive days of abstinence over the course of treatment. Nearly 45% demonstrated a successful response to care and no longer required IOP treatment. Those who finished the IOP completed over 70% of the asynchronous assignments.

Conclusions: Results support the feasibility and effectiveness of delivering a telehealth IOP for SUDs.

Keywords: abstinence; engagement; intensive outpatient; substance use disorders; telehealth.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors are employees of Brightside Health, Inc, but aside from employment status, Brightside Health was not involved in the study design, interpretation of data, or the decision to submit for publication.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Engagement and disengagement in program.
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