Advancing virtual primary care for people with opioid use disorder (VPC OUD): a mixed-methods study protocol.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The emergence of COVID-19 introduced a dual public health emergency in British Columbia, which was already in the fourth year of its opioid-related overdose crisis. The public health response to COVID-19 must explicitly consider the unique needs of, and impacts on, communities experiencing marginalisation including people with opioid use disorder (PWOUD). The broad move to virtual forms of primary care, for example, may result in changes to healthcare access, delivery of opioid agonist therapies or fluctuations in co-occurring health problems that are prevalent in this population. The goal of this mixed-methods study is to characterise changes to primary care access and patient outcomes following the rapid introduction of virtual care for PWOUD.

Methods and analysis

SUBMITTER: Hedden L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9516147 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature