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The following is a summary of “MOUD 2.0: A clinical algorithm and implementation evaluation protocol for sublingual and injectable buprenorphine treatment of opioid use disorder,” published in the December 2024 issue of Psychiatry by Joa et al.
Primary care often lacks tools for treating opioid use disorder (OUD), limiting access to evidence-based care. Long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) offers potential to improve adherence and retention in these settings.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study on a clinical algorithm incorporating long-acting buprenorphine in primary care. The protocol, MOUD 2.0, outlines an evaluation of implementation at a Federally Qualified Health Center.
They developed the algorithm based on literature review and expert consensus, with iterative feedback from clinicians, staff, and patients. Patients were categorized by adherence and retention, with adherence determined by urine screen and self-report. The evaluation treated patients as their own controls, allowing for multisite comparisons. Descriptive statistics for adherence were presented before and after MOUD 2.0 implementation, with differences tested using McNemar’s test. Pre- and post-implementation unadjusted 6-month survival curves for retention were also presented.
Investigators concluded that using a clinical decision tool with LAIB could guide treatment for OUD in primary care. The protocol offered a consistent approach to assessing adherence and retention for high-risk patients, showing potential improvements in both patient outcomes and retention rates.
Source: frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1383695/abstract
