Formative evaluation of the implementation of digital therapeutics for opioids and other substance use disorders in primary care (DIGITS trial)

Background Substance use disorders (SUDs) result in individual and societal burden. However, most individuals with SUD receive no treatment. Implementing SUD interventions in primary care could address this population's treatment needs. In the USA, reSET ® and reSET-O ® were the first prescript...

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Main Authors: Lorella Palazzo, Caitlin N. Dorsey, Jess Mogk, Tara Beatty, Deborah King, Kelsey Stefanik-Guizlo, Dustin Key, Tessa E. Matson, Mary Shea, Ryan M. Caldeiro, Angela Garza McWethy, Edwin S. Wong, Abisola E. Idu, Joseph E. Glass
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2024-12-01
Series:Implementation Research and Practice
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/26334895241301670
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author Lorella Palazzo
Caitlin N. Dorsey
Jess Mogk
Tara Beatty
Deborah King
Kelsey Stefanik-Guizlo
Dustin Key
Tessa E. Matson
Mary Shea
Ryan M. Caldeiro
Angela Garza McWethy
Edwin S. Wong
Abisola E. Idu
Joseph E. Glass
author_facet Lorella Palazzo
Caitlin N. Dorsey
Jess Mogk
Tara Beatty
Deborah King
Kelsey Stefanik-Guizlo
Dustin Key
Tessa E. Matson
Mary Shea
Ryan M. Caldeiro
Angela Garza McWethy
Edwin S. Wong
Abisola E. Idu
Joseph E. Glass
author_sort Lorella Palazzo
collection DOAJ
description Background Substance use disorders (SUDs) result in individual and societal burden. However, most individuals with SUD receive no treatment. Implementing SUD interventions in primary care could address this population's treatment needs. In the USA, reSET ® and reSET-O ® were the first prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) for SUDs and opioid use disorder (OUD), respectively. The Digital Treatments for Substance Use Disorder (DIGITS) study tested the effectiveness of practice facilitation and health coaching strategies to support reSET and reSET-O implementation into primary care. A formative evaluation was conducted to monitor implementation, inform adaptations, and learn what promotes PDT sustainment. Method The Dynamic Sustainability Framework and the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications to Evidence-based Implementation Strategies guided the evaluation. Using rapid qualitative methods, we collected and analyzed observational fieldnotes, key informant interviews, and document sources (e.g., meeting minutes) for synthesis and dissemination to clinical partners and the study team via formative reports. We analyzed the reports to generate evaluation results. Results Twenty-four primary care clinics participated. Evaluation data included 98 observational fieldnotes, 16 interviews, and 253 document sources. We produced nine formative reports. The study encountered barriers and facilitators in each DSF domain (ecological system, practice setting, and intervention). In the ecological system, the PDT vendor enabled the study, but the COVID-19 pandemic, laws, regulations, and contracting delayed implementation. In the practice setting, staff shortages and low clinic capacity were implementation challenges, while electronic health record capabilities were both barriers and facilitators. At the intervention level, non-routine workflows, clinician burden, and low patient engagement were barriers despite clinicians’ efforts. Conclusions Digital therapeutics are promising SUD and OUD treatments, but integration into primary care requires conducive laws and regulations, organizational capacity, and patient and clinician engagement. Formative evaluation identified important lessons for future PDT implementation.
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spelling doaj-art-9aa240bff69a4e159073e47adff050f02025-08-20T01:58:48ZengSAGE PublishingImplementation Research and Practice2633-48952024-12-01510.1177/26334895241301670Formative evaluation of the implementation of digital therapeutics for opioids and other substance use disorders in primary care (DIGITS trial)Lorella Palazzo0Caitlin N. Dorsey1Jess Mogk2Tara Beatty3Deborah King4Kelsey Stefanik-Guizlo5Dustin Key6Tessa E. Matson7Mary Shea8Ryan M. Caldeiro9Angela Garza McWethy10Edwin S. Wong11Abisola E. Idu12Joseph E. Glass13 , Seattle, WA, USA , Seattle, WA, USA , Seattle, WA, USA , Seattle, WA, USA , Seattle, WA, USA , Seattle, WA, USA , Seattle, WA, USA , Seattle, WA, USA , Seattle, WA, USA Kaiser Permanente Washington Mental Health & Wellness Services, Seattle, WA, USA Kaiser Permanente National Mental Health & Wellness, Seattle, WA, USA Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA , Seattle, WA, USA Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USABackground Substance use disorders (SUDs) result in individual and societal burden. However, most individuals with SUD receive no treatment. Implementing SUD interventions in primary care could address this population's treatment needs. In the USA, reSET ® and reSET-O ® were the first prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) for SUDs and opioid use disorder (OUD), respectively. The Digital Treatments for Substance Use Disorder (DIGITS) study tested the effectiveness of practice facilitation and health coaching strategies to support reSET and reSET-O implementation into primary care. A formative evaluation was conducted to monitor implementation, inform adaptations, and learn what promotes PDT sustainment. Method The Dynamic Sustainability Framework and the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications to Evidence-based Implementation Strategies guided the evaluation. Using rapid qualitative methods, we collected and analyzed observational fieldnotes, key informant interviews, and document sources (e.g., meeting minutes) for synthesis and dissemination to clinical partners and the study team via formative reports. We analyzed the reports to generate evaluation results. Results Twenty-four primary care clinics participated. Evaluation data included 98 observational fieldnotes, 16 interviews, and 253 document sources. We produced nine formative reports. The study encountered barriers and facilitators in each DSF domain (ecological system, practice setting, and intervention). In the ecological system, the PDT vendor enabled the study, but the COVID-19 pandemic, laws, regulations, and contracting delayed implementation. In the practice setting, staff shortages and low clinic capacity were implementation challenges, while electronic health record capabilities were both barriers and facilitators. At the intervention level, non-routine workflows, clinician burden, and low patient engagement were barriers despite clinicians’ efforts. Conclusions Digital therapeutics are promising SUD and OUD treatments, but integration into primary care requires conducive laws and regulations, organizational capacity, and patient and clinician engagement. Formative evaluation identified important lessons for future PDT implementation.https://doi.org/10.1177/26334895241301670
spellingShingle Lorella Palazzo
Caitlin N. Dorsey
Jess Mogk
Tara Beatty
Deborah King
Kelsey Stefanik-Guizlo
Dustin Key
Tessa E. Matson
Mary Shea
Ryan M. Caldeiro
Angela Garza McWethy
Edwin S. Wong
Abisola E. Idu
Joseph E. Glass
Formative evaluation of the implementation of digital therapeutics for opioids and other substance use disorders in primary care (DIGITS trial)
Implementation Research and Practice
title Formative evaluation of the implementation of digital therapeutics for opioids and other substance use disorders in primary care (DIGITS trial)
title_full Formative evaluation of the implementation of digital therapeutics for opioids and other substance use disorders in primary care (DIGITS trial)
title_fullStr Formative evaluation of the implementation of digital therapeutics for opioids and other substance use disorders in primary care (DIGITS trial)
title_full_unstemmed Formative evaluation of the implementation of digital therapeutics for opioids and other substance use disorders in primary care (DIGITS trial)
title_short Formative evaluation of the implementation of digital therapeutics for opioids and other substance use disorders in primary care (DIGITS trial)
title_sort formative evaluation of the implementation of digital therapeutics for opioids and other substance use disorders in primary care digits trial
url https://doi.org/10.1177/26334895241301670
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