A credibility-driven evaluation of a community-based perinatal substance use disorder collaborative care model

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Maternal Health
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Substance Use Disorder (SUD) during pregnancy poses significant risks to parent and child well-being, including overdose and family separation.
• Community-based recovery programs offer comprehensive care, yet their effectiveness and community perspectives are often under-examined.
• Evaluating perinatal SUD treatment models is crucial for improving maternal and infant health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Substance Use Network (SUN) program, a community-based perinatal SUD recovery model in North Carolina.
• To assess participant engagement, health outcomes, and the alignment between patient and provider experiences using a patient-focused journey mapping approach.
• To provide a replicable model for evaluating community-based recovery programs.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed, including medical record review (n=29), surveys (n=29), focus groups (n=7), and staff interviews (n=11).
• Patient-focused journey mapping was utilized to assess participant engagement and experiences.
• Quantitative data analyzed treatment adherence and birth outcomes; qualitative data explored participant and staff perspectives.

Main Results:

• High treatment adherence (94%) and positive birth outcomes were observed, with 87% of infants born at term.
• 100% of infants born to parents enrolling in the first trimester were delivered at term.
• Qualitative data revealed participant priorities for opioid agonist treatment and sustained, non-judgmental support, alongside identified areas for program improvement.

Conclusions:

• Patient-focused journey mapping offers a credible and replicable framework for evaluating community-based perinatal SUD programs.
• The SUN program demonstrates the effectiveness of community-based models in supporting parental recovery and improving infant health.
• Findings can inform enhanced public health strategies for pregnant and parenting individuals in recovery.