How Should Remote Clinical Monitoring Be Used to Treat Alcohol Use Disorders?: Initial Findings From an Expert Round...

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Digital Health
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Chronic illness management is increasingly applied to alcohol use disorders (AUDs).
• Remote, real-time monitoring of blood alcohol content (BAC) is now technically feasible.
• Empirical research is lacking to guide the clinical use of remote BAC monitoring in AUD treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss key issues in remote BAC monitoring for adults in outpatient AUD treatment.
• To identify areas of consensus and disagreement among experts regarding remote BAC monitoring.
• To inform future clinical and implementation research in this field.

Main Methods:

• An expert panel of clinicians and researchers convened to discuss remote BAC monitoring.
• The panel addressed eight specific issues relevant to outpatient AUD treatment.
• Discussions focused on the clinical viability, relapse deterrence, and intensification of care based on monitoring results.

Main Results:

• Unanimous agreement that 12-month remote BAC monitoring deters relapse in AUD treatment.
• Consensus that positive BAC tests warrant intensified care and monitoring.
• Disagreement on specific methods for clinical intensification following positive tests.
• Agreement on the benefit of sharing results with support groups, but concerns about practicalities.

Conclusions:

• Remote BAC monitoring is a clinically viable tool for relapse prevention in AUD treatment.
• Further clinical and implementation research is essential to develop evidence-based guidelines.
• Addressing practical issues in data sharing is crucial for maximizing the potential of remote monitoring.