Patients' perceptions of self-administered dosing to opioid agonist treatment and other changes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

During the COVID-19 pandemic, addiction treatment services received official guidance asking them to limit face-to-face contact with patients and to prescribe opioid agonist treatment (OAT) medication flexibly. With the aim for most patients to receive take-home supplies for self-administration rather than attendance for observed daily dosing.

Design

This was a theory-driven, clinically applied qualitative study, with data for thematic analysis collected by semi-structured, audio-recorded, telephone interviews.

Participants

Twenty-seven adults (aged ≥18 years) enrolled in sublingual (tablet) buprenorphine and oral (liquid) methadone OAT.

Setting

Community addictions centre in the London Borough of Lambeth operated by South London and Maudsley NHS Tru

SUBMITTER: Scott G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10032386 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature