Stage-Based Mobile Intervention for Substance Use Disorders in Primary Care: Development and Test of Acceptability

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Primary Care Interventions
• Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Background:

• Substance Use Disorder (SUD) affects millions, yet treatment access remains low.
• Primary care providers are crucial for early identification and intervention through Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT).
• Provider time constraints and patient motivation are significant barriers to SBIRT implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and assess the acceptability of a mobile-delivered Substance Use Risk Intervention (SURI) for patients.
• To evaluate a clinical dashboard designed to support providers in delivering SBIRT.
• To address key barriers hindering effective SBIRT in primary care settings.

Main Methods:

• A pilot test involved 4 primary care providers and 5 patients with known SUDs.
• Providers used a clinical dashboard, while patients engaged with a mobile-delivered SURI.
• Acceptability was measured using surveys adapted from the National Cancer Institute's criteria, with a benchmark of 4.0 or higher.

Main Results:

• Providers reported high overall acceptability (mean 4.4/5), particularly valuing the helpful patient information provided.
• Patients also rated the mobile and provider-delivered sessions highly acceptable (mean 4.5/5).
• Program components like text messages and web activities achieved a mean acceptability rating of 4.0/5.

Conclusions:

• The SURI program and its associated clinical dashboard were favorably received by both patients and providers.
• This technology effectively addresses identified barriers to implementing SBIRT in primary care.
• The findings support the potential of digital tools to enhance SUD screening and intervention in primary care.