Building Capacity for Medication Assisted Treatment in Rural Primary Care Practices: The IT MATTTRs Practice Team...

In response to rural communities and practice concerns related to opioid use disorder (OUD), the Implementing Technology and Medication Assisted Treatment Team Training in Rural Colorado study (IT MATTTRs) developed a training intervention for full primary care practice (PCP) teams in MAT for OUD. This evaluation reports on training implementation, participant satisfaction, and impact on perceived ability to deliver MAT.

PCPs in the High Plains Research Network and Colorado Research Network were randomized to receive team training either in-person or through virtual tele-mentoring. Training attendance logs recorded the number of participants and their roles. Participants completed a survey within one month of the last training session to evaluate satisfaction and ability to deliver components of MATs.

441 team members at 42 PCPs were trained, including 22% clinicians, 47% clinical support staff, 24% administrative support staff. Survey respondents reported high levels of satisfaction, including 82% reporting improved understanding of the topic, and 68% identifying actions to apply information. Self-rated ability was significantly higher after training for all items (P < .0001), including ability to identify patients for MAT and to manage patients receiving MAT. Mean change scores, adjusted for role, were significantly greater for all measures (P < .001) in SOuND practices compared to ECHO practices.

The IT MATTTRs Practice Team Training successfully engaged PCP team members in diverse roles in MAT for OUD training and increased self-efficacy to deliver MAT. Results support the training as a resource for a team-based approach to build rural practices' capacity to deliver MAT.