Using Phone App Doesn’t Improve MAT Adherence in Small Study

In a small trial led by researchers from the University of Washington and conducted in Seattle and Boston, use of a video smartphone app to confirm adherence to buprenorphine for treating opioid use disorder did not reduce illicit drug use or increase patient engagement.

Findings from the study were published by Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

The study included 78 participants who were just starting office-based OUD treatment. The participants were divided into 2 groups. Those in the “treatment as usual” group were prescribed buprenorphine to take at home, then come to a clinic for monitoring at the provider’s discretion. The “video directly observed therapy” group members were asked to upload at least 1 video per day showing them taking their prescribed buprenorphine. Patients were sent reminder alerts as needed, and they also received calendar summaries and positive messaging after submitting videos.

After 12 weeks, the smartphone group uploaded videos just 31% of the time, and there were no statistical differences observed in urine drug screening results or patient engagement.

In publishing their findings, the researchers noted that study was limited by low rates of intervention use and that adherence for many patients could be difficult because of other factors, including unemployment, lack of housing and co-occurring mental health disorders.