A mixed-methods evaluation of the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a mobile intervention for methadone maintenance clients.

Abstract

Despite the recent explosion of behavioral health interventions delivered on mobile devices, little is known about factors that make such applications practical, engaging and useful to their target audience. This study reports on the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a prototype of a novel, interactive mobile psychosocial intervention to reduce problematic drug use among clients in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). A mixed-methods pilot study with new MMT clients (n=25) indicated that the mobile intervention approach was feasible, and that participants found the intervention highly acceptable and useful. On 100-point visual analog scale (VAS) items, participants reported high levels of liking the program (M=75.6), and endorsed it as useful (M=77.5), easy to use (M=80.7), and containing a significant amount of new information (M=74.8). When compared with 25 study participants who received standard MMT alone, pilot participants rated their treatment significantly higher in interestingness and usefulness, and were significantly more satisfied with their treatment. In qualitative interviews, participants reported using the mobile intervention in a range of settings, including during times of heightened risk for substance use, and finding it helpful in managing drug cravings. Additionally, pilot participants showed evidence of increased treatment retention and abstinence from illicit opioids (in terms of effect size) over a 3-month period relative to those in standard MMT, suggesting the application’s potential to enhance treatment outcomes. These promising findings suggest that an evidence-based mobile therapeutic tool addressing substance use may appeal to drug treatment clients and have clinical utility as an adjunct to formal treatment.

Feasibility and Effects of Digital Interventions to Support People in Recovery From Substance Use Disorders: Systematic Review (Preprint)

“…Program [67], 44% returned their first phone after the end of the three months study while 44% needed a replacement phone. In the first study of A-CHESS [64], 170 participants needed 116 replacement phones during the eight months trial.…”

“…None of the participants in the LBMI-A intervention [66] used the skill modules for resisting urges to drink or drink refusals, and very few used the psychoeducational modules after week 2 of the intervention, while most of the participants continued using the monitoring modules. The 25 participants in the experimental condition of the study of the Check-In Program [67] completed, on average, 21 Self-Management modules and 9 Functional Analysis modules during the 3 month intervention. Several of the studies on A-CHESS present information on the use of the different modules of the intervention over time.…”

“…In the case of the A-CHESS intervention, 78% of the sample was still using the intervention after 4 months [59]. In one study [67], the intervention (the Check In Program) was combined with a computer based psycho-educative program (TES) in one of the study conditions. In the combined condition the retention rate was 84% by the end of the study, compared to 56% in the uncombined condition (p=0.031).…”

Mobile Intervention: A New Proposal for Increased Success of Methadone/Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment in Iranian Population

“…Internet-based delivery or mobile intervention is welcomed by the patients as an indirect method of rehabilitation services delivery (6). During recent years, technological advancement and use of communication tools and applications in cyberspace has grown dramatically.…”

“…Using the internet-based delivery format and mobile intervention in the time gap between weekly physical referrals to the clinic potentially increases the treatmentrelated positive outcomes. Finally, to improve health outcomes and prevent rehabilitation failure, we recommend that the routine services of Iranian MMT/BMT clinics be integrated with comprehensive health and support services (5); namely, internet-based delivery and mobile intervention (6).…”