Patient experience of opioid use disorder treatment medications: a systematic review of contemporary qualitative research

Natalie Lowry; Carina Najia; Mike Kelleher; Luke Mitcheson; John Marsden

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088617

Patient experience of opioid use disorder treatment medications: a systematic review of contemporary qualitative research

Natalie Lowry, Carina Najia, Mike Kelleher, Luke Mitcheson, John Marsden

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

Objectives Opioid agonist, partial agonist and antagonist medications are used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). This was the first omnibus narrative systematic review of the contemporary qualitative literature on patient experiences of receiving these medications.

Design Narrative systematic review using the sample, phenomenon of interest, design, evaluation and research framework.

Data sources PubMed, Embase and APA PsycINFO were searched between 1 January 2000 and 14 June 2023, with the addition of hand searches.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Qualitative and mixed methods studies among adults with experience of receiving OUD treatment medication in community and criminal justice settings.

Data extraction and synthesis One reviewer conducted searches using the pre-registered strategy. Two independent reviewers screened studies and assessed quality using the Consolidation Criteria for Reporting Qualitative tool. Identified reports were first categorised using domains from the addiction dimensions for assessment and personalised treatment (an instrument developed to guide OUD treatment planning), then by narrative synthesis.

Results From 1129 studies, 47 reports (published between 2005 and 2023) were included. Five major themes (and nine subthemes) were identified: (1) expectations about initiating treatment (barriers to access; motivations to receive medication); (2) responses to medication induction and stabilisation; (3) experience of the dispensing pharmacy (attending; medication dispensing); (4) experiences of maintenance treatment (services; dose adjustment; personal and social functioning); and (5) social factors (integration and stigma) and experiences of discontinuing treatment. Together these themes reflected and endorsed the importance of patient-centred care and clinically integrated services. Further qualitative research in real-world settings is needed on extended-release buprenorphine given the relative novelty of this medication option.

Conclusions A narrative systematic review of the qualitative studies of medications for OUD endorsed the importance of patient-centred care and clinically integrated services.

PROSPERO registration number CRD42019139365.

Original language	English
Article number	e088617
Pages (from-to)	e088617
Journal	BMJ Open
Volume	14
Issue number	12
Early online date	4 Dec 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088617
Publication status	Published - 4 Dec 2024

Keywords

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Substance misuse
Systematic Review

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088617Licence: CC BY-NC

Patient experience of opioid_LOWRY_Publishedonline4December2024_GOLD_VoR (CC BY-NC)Final published version, 1.03 MBLicence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

@article{6401b786ce98454ca3d6fc9e9f8970ee,

title = "Patient experience of opioid use disorder treatment medications: a systematic review of contemporary qualitative research",

abstract = "Objectives Opioid agonist, partial agonist and antagonist medications are used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). This was the first omnibus narrative systematic review of the contemporary qualitative literature on patient experiences of receiving these medications.Design Narrative systematic review using the sample, phenomenon of interest, design, evaluation and research framework.Data sources PubMed, Embase and APA PsycINFO were searched between 1 January 2000 and 14 June 2023, with the addition of hand searches.Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Qualitative and mixed methods studies among adults with experience of receiving OUD treatment medication in community and criminal justice settings.Data extraction and synthesis One reviewer conducted searches using the pre-registered strategy. Two independent reviewers screened studies and assessed quality using the Consolidation Criteria for Reporting Qualitative tool. Identified reports were first categorised using domains from the addiction dimensions for assessment and personalised treatment (an instrument developed to guide OUD treatment planning), then by narrative synthesis.Results From 1129 studies, 47 reports (published between 2005 and 2023) were included. Five major themes (and nine subthemes) were identified: (1) expectations about initiating treatment (barriers to access; motivations to receive medication); (2) responses to medication induction and stabilisation; (3) experience of the dispensing pharmacy (attending; medication dispensing); (4) experiences of maintenance treatment (services; dose adjustment; personal and social functioning); and (5) social factors (integration and stigma) and experiences of discontinuing treatment. Together these themes reflected and endorsed the importance of patient-centred care and clinically integrated services. Further qualitative research in real-world settings is needed on extended-release buprenorphine given the relative novelty of this medication option.Conclusions A narrative systematic review of the qualitative studies of medications for OUD endorsed the importance of patient-centred care and clinically integrated services.PROSPERO registration number CRD42019139365.",

keywords = "CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, QUALITATIVE RESEARCH, Substance misuse, Systematic Review",

author = "Natalie Lowry and Carina Najia and Mike Kelleher and Luke Mitcheson and John Marsden",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.",

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doi = "10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088617",

language = "English",

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T2 - a systematic review of contemporary qualitative research

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AU - Najia, Carina

AU - Kelleher, Mike

AU - Mitcheson, Luke

AU - Marsden, John

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N2 - Objectives Opioid agonist, partial agonist and antagonist medications are used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). This was the first omnibus narrative systematic review of the contemporary qualitative literature on patient experiences of receiving these medications.Design Narrative systematic review using the sample, phenomenon of interest, design, evaluation and research framework.Data sources PubMed, Embase and APA PsycINFO were searched between 1 January 2000 and 14 June 2023, with the addition of hand searches.Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Qualitative and mixed methods studies among adults with experience of receiving OUD treatment medication in community and criminal justice settings.Data extraction and synthesis One reviewer conducted searches using the pre-registered strategy. Two independent reviewers screened studies and assessed quality using the Consolidation Criteria for Reporting Qualitative tool. Identified reports were first categorised using domains from the addiction dimensions for assessment and personalised treatment (an instrument developed to guide OUD treatment planning), then by narrative synthesis.Results From 1129 studies, 47 reports (published between 2005 and 2023) were included. Five major themes (and nine subthemes) were identified: (1) expectations about initiating treatment (barriers to access; motivations to receive medication); (2) responses to medication induction and stabilisation; (3) experience of the dispensing pharmacy (attending; medication dispensing); (4) experiences of maintenance treatment (services; dose adjustment; personal and social functioning); and (5) social factors (integration and stigma) and experiences of discontinuing treatment. Together these themes reflected and endorsed the importance of patient-centred care and clinically integrated services. Further qualitative research in real-world settings is needed on extended-release buprenorphine given the relative novelty of this medication option.Conclusions A narrative systematic review of the qualitative studies of medications for OUD endorsed the importance of patient-centred care and clinically integrated services.PROSPERO registration number CRD42019139365.

AB - Objectives Opioid agonist, partial agonist and antagonist medications are used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). This was the first omnibus narrative systematic review of the contemporary qualitative literature on patient experiences of receiving these medications.Design Narrative systematic review using the sample, phenomenon of interest, design, evaluation and research framework.Data sources PubMed, Embase and APA PsycINFO were searched between 1 January 2000 and 14 June 2023, with the addition of hand searches.Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Qualitative and mixed methods studies among adults with experience of receiving OUD treatment medication in community and criminal justice settings.Data extraction and synthesis One reviewer conducted searches using the pre-registered strategy. Two independent reviewers screened studies and assessed quality using the Consolidation Criteria for Reporting Qualitative tool. Identified reports were first categorised using domains from the addiction dimensions for assessment and personalised treatment (an instrument developed to guide OUD treatment planning), then by narrative synthesis.Results From 1129 studies, 47 reports (published between 2005 and 2023) were included. Five major themes (and nine subthemes) were identified: (1) expectations about initiating treatment (barriers to access; motivations to receive medication); (2) responses to medication induction and stabilisation; (3) experience of the dispensing pharmacy (attending; medication dispensing); (4) experiences of maintenance treatment (services; dose adjustment; personal and social functioning); and (5) social factors (integration and stigma) and experiences of discontinuing treatment. Together these themes reflected and endorsed the importance of patient-centred care and clinically integrated services. Further qualitative research in real-world settings is needed on extended-release buprenorphine given the relative novelty of this medication option.Conclusions A narrative systematic review of the qualitative studies of medications for OUD endorsed the importance of patient-centred care and clinically integrated services.PROSPERO registration number CRD42019139365.

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KW - QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

KW - Substance misuse

KW - Systematic Review

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AN - SCOPUS:85211688568

SN - 2044-6055

VL - 14

SP - e088617

JO - BMJ Open

JF - BMJ Open

IS - 12

M1 - e088617

ER -

Patient experience of opioid use disorder treatment medications: a systematic review of contemporary qualitative research

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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