Primary care's most pressing needs to address opioid use disorder: A qualitative study

Although buprenorphine is effective and approved for treating opioid use disorder (OUD), it remains underutilized in primary care settings. This study's objective was to explore what primary care teams need to overcome barriers in treating OUD, and to assess whether those needs change after receiving education on OUD treatment.

The American Academy of Family Physicians hosted a 12-month Project ECHO® educational series on OUD for primary care teams. Thematic analysis was conducted on participant responses pre- and post-series to the survey item "Please list your most pressing needs related to OUD" (N = 92).

Ninety-two participants from 25 primary care practices from the US and Canada responded to the pressing needs item across both surveys. The most prevalent need reported at baseline was Education and Training, which became second to Health System Resources at endpoint. Respondents cited organizational protocols for OUD treatment as a pressing need among other Health System Resources such as support for reimbursement. Needs relating to transportation and housing; engaging patients to start and continue in OUD treatment; and addressing stigma within the community and health system were indicative of overlapping barriers.

Responses from primary care teams echo previous studies on barriers to OUD treatment and provide specific, actionable insight to addressing these barriers.

Actionable insights, for example, implementing health system-level OUD protocols and guidelines and promoting availability of OUD treatment and education, are ways that primary care teams could increase treatment of patients with OUD.