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Perinatal OUD Treatment Provider Understandings of Rural Patients' Experiences
Catherine Leiner1, Brian Antono, Bayla Ostrach
1UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC, Asheville, NC (CL); Family Medicine Residency Program, Mountain Area Health Education Center, Asheville, NC (BA); Medical resident in a program partially supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,656,886 with 0 percent financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov. (This statement is required by HRSA to be included in all publications on which a HRSA-funded medical resident is listed as an author.) (BA); Department of Research, UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC, Asheville, NC (BO); Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA (BO).
Objectives:
To present perspectives of substance use treatment providers offering perinatal opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment in a largely rural, Appalachian region. To demonstrate the extent to which providers sought to understand their patients' experiences accessing treatment and how this understanding informed providers' approach to offering patient-centered care.
Methods:
A qualitative study combining semi-structured interviews and participant-observation with perinatal substance use treatment providers, conducted within a comprehensive program. Using purposive and opportunistic sampling with key informants (n = 10), a saturation sample was achieved. Data were analyzed using modified Grounded Theory.
Results:
Perinatal substance use treatment providers had a good understanding of their patients' experiences seeking treatment for opioid use disorder, including being aware of obstacles patients encountered. This understanding allowed providers to better address patients' needs in and out of the clinic.
Conclusions:
Participants demonstrated a good understanding of what their largely rural, Appalachian patients experienced when attempting to access perinatal OUD treatment. This understanding may enable more patient-centered care.
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