Background: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the rapid transition of many types of substance use disorder (SUD) treatments to telehealth formats, despite limited information about what makes treatment effective in this novel format. Objective: This study aims to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of virtual intensive outpatient programming (IOP) treatment for SUD in the context of a global pandemic, while considering the unique challenges posed to data collection during an unprecedented public health crisis. Methods: The study is based on a longitudinal study with a baseline sample of 3642 patients who enrolled in intensive outpatient addiction treatment (in-person, hybrid, or virtual care) from January 2020 to March 2021 at a large substance use treatment center in the United States. The analytical sample consisted of patients who completed the 3-month postdischarge outcome survey as part of routine outcome monitoring (n=1060, 29.1% response rate). Results: No significant differences were detected by delivery format in continuous abstinence (χ²₂=0.4, P=.81), overall quality of life (F_2,826=2.06, P=.13), financial well-being (F_2,767=2.30, P=.10), psychological well-being (F_2,918=0.72, P=.49), and confidence in one’s ability to stay sober (F_2,941=0.21, P=.81). Individuals in hybrid programming were more likely to report a higher level of general health than those in virtual IOP (F_2,917=4.19, P=.01). Conclusions: Virtual outpatient care for the treatment of SUD is a feasible alternative to in-person-only programming, leading to similar self-reported outcomes at 3 months postdischarge. Given the many obstacles presented throughout data collection during a pandemic, further research is needed to better understand under what conditions telehealth is an acceptable alternative to in-person care.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 大流行期间针对药物使用障碍的远程医疗服务：密集门诊规划和数据收集实践的纵向评估


背景： COVID-19 大流行的爆发使得许多类型的物质使用障碍 (SUD) 治疗必须迅速过渡到远程医疗形式，尽管有关如何使这种新型形式的治疗有效的信息有限。目的：本研究旨在探讨在全球大流行背景下虚拟强化门诊规划 (IOP) 治疗 SUD 的可行性和有效性，同时考虑在前所未有的公共卫生危机期间数据收集所面临的独特挑战。方法：该研究基于一项纵向研究，基线样本为 3642 名患者，这些患者于 2020 年 1 月至 2021 年 3 月在美国一家大型药物使用治疗中心参加了强化门诊成瘾治疗（面对面、混合或虚拟护理）。美国。分析样本由完成出院后 3 个月结果调查的患者组成，作为常规结果监测的一部分（n=1060，响应率为 29.1%）。结果：不同分娩方式在持续戒断（ χ ² ₂ =0.4， P =.81）、总体生活质量（ F _2,826 =2.06， P =.13）、财务状况（ F _2,767 =）方面没有检测到显着差异。 2.30， P =.10）、心理健康（ F _2,918 =0.72， P =.49）以及对保持清醒能力的信心（ F _2,941 =0.21， P =.81）。混合编程中的个体比虚拟 IOP 中的个体更有可能报告更高水平的总体健康状况 ( F _2,917 =4。19， P =.01）。结论：治疗 SUD 的虚拟门诊护理是替代面对面治疗的可行方案，可在出院后 3 个月达到类似的自我报告结果。鉴于大流行期间数据收集过程中存在许多障碍，需要进一步研究以更好地了解在什么条件下远程医疗是面对面护理的可接受的替代方案。