JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the rapid transition of many types of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment to telehealth formats, despite limited information about what makes treatment effective in this novel format.

Objective:

To examine the feasibility and effectiveness of virtual intensive outpatient program (IOP) treatment for SUD in the context of a global pandemic, while considering the unique challenges posed to data collection during an unprecedented public health crisis.

Methods:

The study is based on a longitudinal study with a baseline sample of 3,642 patients who enrolled in intensive outpatient addiction treatment (in-person, hybrid, or virtual) from January 2020 to March 2021 at a large substance use treatment center in the United States. The analytical sample consisted of patients who completed the 3-month post-discharge outcome survey as part of routine outcome monitoring (n = 1,060) (response rate = 29%).

Results:

No significant differences were detected by delivery format in continuous abstinence (χ2 = 0.42, P = .81), overall quality of life (F(2,826) = 2.06, P = .13), financial well-being (F(2,767) = 2.30, P = .10), psychological well-being (F(2,918) = 0.72, P = .49), and confidence in one’s ability to stay sober (F(2,941) = 0.21, P = .81). Individuals in hybrid programming were more likely to report a higher level of general health than those in virtual IOP (F(2,917) = 4.19, P = .01).

Conclusions:

Virtual outpatient care for the treatment of SUDs is a feasible alternative to in-person only programming leading to similar self-reported outcomes at 3-months post-discharge. Given the many obstacles presented throughout data collection during a pandemic, further research is needed to better understand under what conditions telehealth is an acceptable alternative to in-person care.