Implementing injectable opioid agonist treatment: a survey of professionals in the field of opioid use disorders

Abstract

Background

Engagement of health care professionals represents an important factor for successful implementation of new practices. To support these professionals’ involvement, it is essential to understand their perspective. This study describes the perspective of professionals in the field of opioid use disorder (OUD), in the province of Quebec (Canada), regarding appropriateness of iOAT for their patients and the obstacles to its implementation.

Methods

A web-based survey was conducted, with 132 OUD professionals (physicians, pharmacists, nurses and counselors).

Results

80.3% of respondents report prior knowledge of iOAT, 87.6% are interested in obtaining additional information on iOAT, and 98.1% consider iOAT to be very or partially appropriate for their clientele. In terms of barriers to iOAT implementation, the main obstacles highlighted by respondents pertain to the lack of available or qualified staff, access to appropriate facilities and equipment, and patient transportation. Professionals who perceive iOAT to be very appropriate for their clientele are more likely to report a higher number of patients with biopsychosocial deterioration, to consider themselves to be very familiar with iOAT, and to work in a higher population density area.

Conclusions

Results highlight feasibility challenges, but support perceived appropriateness of iOAT in a sample of OUD professionals in Quebec.

Keywords:

• Injectable opioid agonist treatment
• opioid use disorders
• professionals
• feasibility
• acceptability

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the professionals who participated in the study, as well as the study’s advisory committee. They also wish to thank Jennifer Cohen, Adriana Gentile and Diana Milton for technical and administrative support.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in this paper.

Author contributors

M. Perreault, ME Goyer and L. Archambault designed the study. J. Sabetti conducted part of the literature review and wrote parts of the manuscript, which were corrected and supplemented by M. Perreault and L. Archambault. M-E Goyer reviewed and commented on the final draft from a clinical perspective.

Data availability statement

Due to the nature of this research, participants of this study did not agree for their individual data to be shared publicly, so supporting data is not available. This is to preserve participant confidentiality.

Notes

1 The NAOMI study is a heroin prescription trial held between 2002 and 2006 in Vancouver and Montreal, Canada.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Health Canada Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP), the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec, the Institut Universitaire sur les Dépendances, and the Douglas Mental Health University Institute.