Research Briefs

Assessing the Feasibility, Usability and Acceptability of the MySafeRx Platform Among Individuals in Outpatient Buprenorphine Treatment: Lessons Learned from A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Authors

Janzow GE, Harding C, Flores M, et al.

Purpose

To examine the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of MySafeRx, a mobile platform featuring recovery coaching based on Motivational Interviewing. MySafeRx is delivered via videoconference alongside medication adherence monitoring and electronic pill dispensing in support of outpatient buprenorphine/naloxone (B/N) treatment for Opioid Use Disorder.

Methods

A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the addition of MySafeRx to standard care for outpatient B/N treatment. Adult participants (ages 18 to 65) receiving treatment for Opioid Use Disorder who report illicit opioid use or have a urine toxicology positive for illicit opioids or miss a urine toxicology in the past 30 days were recruited from Hawthorne Treatment Center and Cambridge Health Alliance. Participants randomized to the Intervention group received 6 weeks of MySafeRx mobile intervention in addition to standard care. Standard care consisted of in-person office-based B/N treatment. Mobile recovery coaches were trained in Motivational Interviewing techniques and adherence monitoring. All participants were asked to complete online weekly feasibility surveys to assess the frequency of B/N supervised self-administration; participants using MySafeRx also completed weekly online surveys to capture platform acceptability (i.e., satisfaction with MySafeRx) and usability (i.e., competency using MySafeRx).

Findings

• Almost half (n=25; 44%) of referrals declined to participate due to a perceived lack of need for additional monitoring or coaching.

• Twenty-seven recruited participants enrolled (100% White, average age=31.9 years, 63% female).

• MySafeRx participants reported an average usability score of 78.4 (i.e., adequate usability is at least a score of 68) and found the electronic pill dispenser (Mean = 4.1 out of 5) and videoconferencing with recovery coaches “easy to use” (Mean = 4.2 out of 5).

• Participants indicated they would recommend MySafeRx to a friend (Mean= 4.1 out of 5).

• Recovery coaching had the highest acceptability of all components (Mean= 4.4 out of 5).

• MySafeRx coaches reported supervising participants’ self-administration of B/N on 64.3% of study days, which was less than the anticipated 71% (i.e., 5 of 7 days per week).

Relevance

• Although the sample size was small, those who participated in this pilot found MySafeRx to be acceptable with favorable usability.

• These findings provide insight into the need for and promise of mobile recovery coaching, particularly during periods of instability in standard B/N care.

• MySafeRx could be a useful tool for future telemedicine OUD implementation projects.

Read More

Janzow GE, Harding C, Flores M, et al. Assessing the feasibility, usability and acceptability of the MySafeRx platform among individuals in outpatient buprenorphine treatment: Lessons learned from a pilot randomized controlled trial. Drug Alcohol Depend Rep. 2022 Mar 17;3:100045. doi: 10.1016/j.dadr.2022.100045