Factors of Interest in Extended-Release Buprenorphine: Comparisons Between Incarcerated and Non-Incarcerated Patients with Opioid Use Disorder

Figures & data

Table 1 Bivariable Comparisons in the Features of Incarcerated and Non-Incarcerated Interviewees

Parameter	Total n (%)	Incarcerated n (%)	Not Incarcerated n (%)	p-value
Sociodemographic features
Gender
Male	239 (75.4)	86 (89.6)	153 (69.2)	< 0.001
Female	78 (24.6)	10 (10.4)	68 (30.8)
Housing status
Unstable	117 (36.9)	61 (63.5)	56 (25.3)	< 0.001
Stable	200 (63.1)	35 (36.5)	165 (74.7)
Level of education
Primary	27 (8.5)	7 (7.3)	20 (9.0)	0.005
Secondary	223 (70.4)	79 (82.3)	144 (65.2)
High school or higher	67 (21.1)	10 (10.4)	57 (25.8)
Current MOUD type
BUP or BUP/NAL	195 (61.5)	59 (61.5)	136 (61.5)	0.989
Methadone	122 (38.5)	37 (38.5)	85 (38.5)
Binarized answer to Q40. “Would you be prepared to change your current treatment in order to take this new treatment (ie XR-BUP)?”
No, or do not know	148 (46.7)	35 (36.5)	113 (51.1)	0.016
Yes	169 (53.3)	61 (63.5)	108 (48.9)
Binarized answers to Q38. “In your opinion, what are the important points that could lead you to choose this new treatment (ie XR-BUP)?”
No longer having to take any tablets (or capsules/syrup) every day
Not important	86 (27.1)	19 (19.8)	67 (30.3)	0.053
Important	231 (72.9)	77 (80.2)	154 (69.7)
No longer forgetting to take the tablets (or capsules/syrup)
Not important	137 (43.2)	43 (44.8)	94 (42.5)	0.709
Important	180 (56.8)	53 (55.2)	127 (57.5)
The option of taking the medication only once a week/month
Not important	63 (19.9)	17 (17.7)	46 (20.8)	0.524
Important	254 (80.1)	79 (82.3)	175 (79.2)
The fact that a subcutaneous injection is involved (only slightly painful)
Not important	182 (57.4)	75 (78.1)	107 (48.4)	< 0.001
Important	135 (46.2)	21 (21.9)	114 (51.6)
Being sure to receive a constant dose, always effective throughout the week/month
Not important	44 (13.9)	6 (6.3)	38 (17.2)	0.010
Important	273 (86.1)	90 (93.7)	183 (82.8)
No longer having to use heroin/morphine
Not important	67 (21.1)	24 (25.0)	43 (19.5)	0.267
Important	250 (78.9)	72 (75.0)	178 (80.5)
Avoiding having to share (or resell) all or part of my prescribed treatment
Not important	179 (56.5)	60 (62.5)	119 (53.8)	0.153
Important	138 (43.5)	36 (37.5)	102 (46.2)
No longer worrying about feeling ill if I forget my treatment for a few hours, or if I am unable to take it at the usual time
Not important	64 (20.2)	26 (27.1)	38 (17.2)	0.044
Important	253 (79.8)	70 (72.9)	183 (82.8)
No longer feeling the effect of heroin/morphine if I take more of this treatment than I should
Not important	148 (46.7)	53 (55.2)	95 (43.0)	0.045
Important	169 (53.3)	43 (44.8)	126 (57.0)
No longer having the option of injecting, snorting or inhaling my treatment
Not important	163 (51.4)	58 (60.4)	105 (47.5)	0.035
Important	154 (48.6)	38 (39.6)	116 (52.5)
The option of a more “discreet” treatment (one injection a week/month by going to my doctor’s/to the centre) as compared to tablets (or capsules, syrup) to be taken at home, with me, every day
Not important	108 (34.1)	23 (24.0)	85 (38.5)	0.012
Important	209 (66.9)	73 (76.0)	136 (61.5)

Note: Significant p-values are presented in bold.

Abbreviations: BUP, buprenorphine; BUP/NAL, buprenorphine/naloxone; MOUD, medications for opioid use disorder; XR-BUP, Extended-release buprenorphine.

Table 2 Raw and Adjusted Comparisons of Factors of Interest for XR-BUP Between Incarcerated and Non-Incarcerated Subjects

Parameter	OR [95% CI]	aOR [95% CI] ^a
Binarized answers to Q.38. “In your opinion, what are the important points that could lead you to choosing this new treatment (ie XR-BUP)?”
No longer having to take any tablets (or capsules/syrup) every day (nmv= 2)
Incarcerated (n= 96; 30.1%)	1.76 [0.99–3.14] †	1.81 [0.99–3.31] †
Not incarcerated (n= 223; 69.9%)	1	1
No longer forgetting to take the tablets (or capsules/syrup) (nmv= 5)
Incarcerated (n= 96; 30.4%)	0.91 [0.56–1.48]	0.87 [0.52–1.44]
Not incarcerated (n= 220; 69.6%)	1	1
The option of taking the medication only once a week/month (nmv= 6)
Incarcerated (n= 95; 30.2%)	1.22 [0.66–2.26]	1.25 [0.65–2.4]
Not incarcerated (n= 220; 69.8%)	1	1
The fact that a subcutaneous injection is involved (only slightly painful) (nmv= 3)
Incarcerated (n= 96; 30.2%)	0.26 [0.15–0.46] **	0.24 [0.14–0.43] **
Not incarcerated (n= 222; 69.8%)	1	1
Being sure to receive a constant dose, always effective throughout the week/month (nmv= 3)
Incarcerated (n= 96; 30.2%)	3.11 [1.27–7.64] *	2.91 [1.21–6.98] *
Not incarcerated (n= 222; 69.8%)	1	1
No longer having to use heroin/morphine (nmv= 3)
Incarcerated (n= 96; 30.2%)	0.72 [0.41–1.28]	0.67 [0.36–1.24]
Not incarcerated (n= 222; 69.8%)	1	1
Avoiding having to share (or resell) all or part of my prescribed treatment (nmv= 4)
Incarcerated (n= 96; 30.3%)	0.70 [0.43–1.14]	0.70 [0.42–1.17]
Not incarcerated (n= 221; 69.7%)	1	1
No longer worrying about feeling ill if I forget my treatment for a few hours, or if I am unable to take it at the usual time (nmv= 5)
Incarcerated (n= 96; 30.4%)	0.56 [0.32–0.99] *	0.54 [0.29–0.99]*
Not incarcerated (n= 220; 69.6%)	1	1
No longer feeling the effect of heroin/morphine if I take more of this treatment than I should (nmv= 10)
Incarcerated (n= 93; 29.9%)	0.61 [0.38–0.99] *	0.62 [0.37–1.03] †
Not incarcerated (n= 218; 70.1%)	1	1
No longer having the option of injecting, snorting or inhaling my treatment (nmv= 6)
Incarcerated (n= 96; 30.5%)	0.59 [0.36–0.96] *	0.56 [0.34–0.94] *
Not incarcerated (n= 219; 69.5%)	1	1
The option of a more “discreet” treatment (one injection a week/month by going to my doctor’s/to the centre) as compared to tablets (or capsules, syrup) to be taken at home, with me, every day (nmv= 4)
Incarcerated (n= 96; 30.3%)	1.98 [1.15–3.41] *	1.76 [1.01–3.10] *
Not incarcerated (n= 221; 69.7%)	1	1
Binarized answers to Q.39. “Would you say that for you this new product (ie XR-BUP) involves”
Fewer limitations compared to your current treatment (nmv= 3)
Incarcerated (n= 96; 30.2%)	1.54 [0.85–2.79]	1.44 [0.78–2.68]
Not incarcerated (n= 222; 69.8%)	1	1
The option of better following/adhering to my treatment, avoiding cravings and relapses (nmv= 3)
Incarcerated (n= 96; 30.3%)	1.29 [0.75–2.21]	1.42 [0.81–2.47]
Not incarcerated (n= 221; 69.7%)	1	1

Note: †p<0.1; *p<0.05; **p<0.0001. Significant OR or aOR (p-value) are presented in bold. (^aadjusted for gender, age category, level of education, and type of OAT).

Abbreviations: OR, odds ratio; aOR, adjusted OR; 95% CI: 95% confidence interval; nmv, number of missing values; XR-BUP, extended-release buprenorphine.