NLM logo

National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR)

HSRProj (Health Services Research Projects in Progress)

Information about ongoing health services research and public health projects


Comparative effectiveness of unobserved vs. in-office inductions for medication-assisted treatment
Investigator (PI): Zittleman, Linda
Performing Organization (PO): (Current): University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine / (303) 724-9700
Supporting Agency (SA): Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
Initial Year: 2020
Final Year: 2024
Record Source/Award ID: PCORI/ IHS-2019C1-16167
Funding: Total Award Amount: $5,153,416
Award Type: Contract
Award Information: PCORI: More information and project results (when completed)
Abstract: The United States is in the midst of a major opioid epidemic. Thousands of people die each year from opioid overdose. Historically, the only treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD) were abstinence, with a 90% failure rate, or methadone, which must be provided in a specialty addiction clinic. In 2000, legislation was passed that allowed trained primary care providers to treat OUD and addiction in their own practices with buprenorphine. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with buprenorphine is a long-term treatment that is increasingly available in primary care offices. MAT includes three major phases: induction, stabilization, and maintenance. For induction, a person with OUD must stop using their opioids and be in active withdrawal in order for buprenorphine to be effective. If the person is not in withdrawal, serious side effects can occur, such as nausea, vomiting, tremor, and dysphoria. The recommended MAT induction has been at the primary care office where withdrawal can be confirmed and patients can be monitored and benefit from the connections with nurses, physicians, peer counselors, and other staff. However, timing withdrawal to coincide with office hours can be difficult, and office induction requires considerable practice resources. More recently, patients have been offered home induction where they determine when they are in adequate withdrawal and start buprenorphine on their schedule. However, many people suffering OUD may not have a comfortable home or the social connections often necessary for successful MAT. While both home and office induction can be safe and effective, there is an evidence gap around which induction method is better--and for which patients. Our Community Advisory Councils (C.A.C.s), practices, and stakeholders have asked, Which MAT induction method is better--home or office? Do certain patients do better with one method or the other? These are important questions because successful induction provides the foundation for transition to stabilization, long-term maintenance, and improved quality of life. Without a successful induction, patients may not have the resources and motivation to continue through the disruptive stabilization phase and reach long-term maintenance. Guided by our C.A.C.s, patients and providers, we will conduct a comparative effectiveness research study to compare short- and long-term patient-centered outcomes of home versus office-based induction. This randomized trial in primary care practice-based research networks will offer a pragmatic approach to answering these important questions in a real-world setting. Results will provide valuable evidence for patients and providers to consider as they determine their treatment options. Our active C.A.C.s will help develop patient recruitment materials, finalize our social determinant and quality of life measurement tools, and help interpret and disseminate findings. These community groups have been involved in all aspects of our current MAT for OUD work and are eager to continue asking and answering questions that will help their communities suffering from this opioid epidemic. MAT induction is a disruptive activity for patients and practices. This study aims to better equip primary care practices to offer MAT for their patients.
MeSH Terms:
  • Buprenorphine /*therapeutic use
  • Comparative Effectiveness Research
  • Drug Withdrawal Symptoms
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Humans
  • Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid /*methods
  • * Office Visits
  • Opioid Related Disorders /*drug therapy
  • Opioids
  • Patient Care Team
  • Primary Care /*organization & administration
  • Program Development
  • Quality of Life
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Self Administration /*methods
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Social Support
Country: United States
State: Colorado
Zip Code: 80045
UI: 20211319
Project Status: Ongoing
Record History: ('Alternate title: Comparing office and home induction for medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder',)