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Improving treatment for opioid dependence: a perspective from the Ohio Valley node of the NIDA Clinical Trials
Problem:
Rates of adoption of evidenced-based practices, including the use of medications, to treat opioid dependence are low and severely limit secondary prevention efforts to curtail the prescription drug epidemic.
Purpose:
The goal of this article was to describe how involvement in a research clinical trials network (CTN) facilitated the adoption of medications to treat opioid dependence at two community-based treatment programs (CTPs) affiliated with the Ohio Valley Node (OVN) of the National Institute on Drug Abuse's (NIDA) CTN.
Key Points:
Participation in a CTN may facilitate adoption by providing the infrastructure for trialability and observability, but the most critical function may be the knowledge translation that occurs through the individual-level professional relationships that develop.
Conclusion:
Community-based treatment providers' involvement in research networks may increase the rate of evidence-based practice (EBP) adoption and improve outcomes for patients with opioid dependence.
Insights
Community treatment programs involved in research networks can increase the adoption of evidence-based practices (EBPs) for opioid dependence. This involvement facilitates knowledge translation and improves patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Medicine
- Clinical Research Networks
- Implementation Science
Background:
- Low adoption rates of evidence-based practices (EBPs), including medications, hinder efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.
- Community-based treatment programs (CTPs) face challenges in integrating new treatment modalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe how participation in a research clinical trials network (CTN) facilitated the adoption of medications for opioid dependence.
- To examine the role of the National Institute on Drug Abuse's (NIDA) CTN, specifically the Ohio Valley Node (OVN), in supporting CTPs.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative description of two CTPs affiliated with the OVN CTN.
- Focus on the process of adopting medications for opioid dependence within these CTPs.
Main Results:
- CTN involvement provided infrastructure for trialability and observability of EBPs.
- Individual-level professional relationships within the CTN were crucial for knowledge translation.
Conclusions:
- Participation in CTNs can accelerate the adoption of EBPs for opioid dependence.
- Research networks facilitate knowledge sharing and professional collaboration, ultimately improving patient outcomes in community-based settings.