Use of and Retention on Video, Telephone, and In-Person Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic prompted policy changes to allow increased telehealth delivery of buprenorphine, a potentially lifesaving medication for opioid use disorder (OUD). It is unclear how characteristics of patients who access different treatment modalities (in-person vs telehealth, video vs telephone) vary, and whether modality is associated with retention-a key indicator of care quality.

Objectives

To compare patient characteristics across receipt of different treatment modalities and to assess whether modality was associated with retention during the year following COVID-19-related policy changes.

Design, setting, and participants

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the national Veterans Health Administration. Participa

SUBMITTER: Frost MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9557869 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature