Walking and Talking: Recommendations for Doing Mobile Interviews with Older Adults

Mobile methods, including walking interviews, have rarely been used in research with older adults. We compare and contrast two studies that engaged older adults in walking interviews conducted by the coauthors. The first study examined the meaning of food access with residents of publicly-subsidized housing, and the second involved Black Americans in a study of brain health and gentrification. Older adults, including those with physical and mild cognitive impairment, can participate in walking interviews. Key decisions and advice for researchers interested in using mobile methods with this population, including participant safety, comfort abilities, and technology use, are provided

Are We Talking About the Same Thing? Black/african Americans\u27 Response to the BRFSS Cognitive Decline and Caregiver Modules.

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a randomized national U.S. telephone survey administered by state health departments. This study aimed to identify how Black/African Americans understand BRFSS caregiver and cognitive decline surveys and terminology to inform health messaging that centers the Black/African American experience. In focus groups, BRFSS surveys were administered to Black/African Americans (n = 30) aged ≥ 45 in Oregon. Participants were asked how they interpreted BRFSS terms \u27memory loss\u27 and \u27confusion,\u27 how these terms related to Alzheimer\u27s and dementia, and about caregiving and cognitive decline experiences. The culturally responsive Africana Worldview guided interpretation, which centers the Black/African American experience and individuals within interdependent relationships and community identity when explaining behaviors of people from the African diaspora. BRFSS survey responses differed from focus group responses to the same questions. Two participants reported providing care in the past two years on the survey; in discussions, 21 participants reported providing care in the past two years. Interpretations of BRFSS terminology varied greatly. Differences between age-related cognitive changes, dementia and Alzheimer\u27s disease were unclear. Cognitive decline was largely understood in terms of identity loss and relationship changes with the affected individual, and how that individual\u27s relationship changed within community. Caution is advised when using BRFSS data to frame messaging because key cognitive health terms are not universally understood. Messaging that apply the Africana Worldview centralizes relationships and community rather than impact on individual\u27s day-to-day activities, may be more effective for Black/African Americans and for other groups with different cultural and life experiences

Overcoming Barriers to Adopting and Implementing Pharmacotherapy: the Medication Research Partnership

Pharmacotherapy includes a growing number of clinically effective medications for substance use disorder, yet there are significant barriers to its adoption and implementation in routine clinical practice. The Medication Research Partnership (MRP) was a successful effort to promote adoption of pharmacotherapy for opioid and alcohol use disorders in nine substance abuse treatment centers and a commercial health plan. This qualitative analysis of interviews (n = 39) conducted with change leaders at baseline and at the end/beginning of 6-month change cycles explains how treatment centers overcame obstacles to the adoption, implementation, and sustainability of pharmacotherapy. Results show that barriers to adopting, implementing, and sustaining pharmacotherapy can be overcome through incremental testing of organizational change strategies, accompanied by expert coaching and a learning community of like-minded professionals. The greatest challenges lie in overcoming abstinence-only philosophies, establishing a business case for pharmacotherapy, and working with payers and pharmaceutical representatives

Extended-Release Naltrexone: A Qualitative Analysis of Barriers to Routine Use.

The Medication Research Partnership (a national health plan and nine addiction treatment centers contracted with the health plan) sought to facilitate the adoption of pharmacotherapy for alcohol and opioid use disorders. Qualitative analysis of interviews with treatment center change leaders, individuals working for the manufacturer and its technical assistance contractor, and health plan managers extracted details on the processes used to order, store, bill for, and administer extended-release naltrexone. Qualitative themes were categorized using domains from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (intervention characteristics, outer setting, inner setting, and provider characteristics). Characteristics of XR-NTX that inhibited use included the complexity of ordering and using the medication; cost was also a barrier. Outer setting barriers reflected patient needs and external health plan policies on formulary coverage, benefit management, and reimbursement. Program structures, the lack of physician linkages, a culture resistant to the use of medication, and unease with change were inner setting elements that limited use of XR-NTX. Patient stereotypes and a lack of knowledge about XR-NTX affected practitioner willingness to treat patients and prescribe XR-NTX. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research provided a useful lens to understand and interpret the processes affecting access to XR-NTX

Extended-Release Naltrexone: A Qualitative Analysis of Barriers to Routine Use.

The Medication Research Partnership (a national health plan and nine addiction treatment centers contracted with the health plan) sought to facilitate the adoption of pharmacotherapy for alcohol and opioid use disorders. Qualitative analysis of interviews with treatment center change leaders, individuals working for the manufacturer and its technical assistance contractor, and health plan managers extracted details on the processes used to order, store, bill for, and administer extended-release naltrexone. Qualitative themes were categorized using domains from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (intervention characteristics, outer setting, inner setting, and provider characteristics). Characteristics of XR-NTX that inhibited use included the complexity of ordering and using the medication; cost was also a barrier. Outer setting barriers reflected patient needs and external health plan policies on formulary coverage, benefit management, and reimbursement. Program structures, the lack of physician linkages, a culture resistant to the use of medication, and unease with change were inner setting elements that limited use of XR-NTX. Patient stereotypes and a lack of knowledge about XR-NTX affected practitioner willingness to treat patients and prescribe XR-NTX. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research provided a useful lens to understand and interpret the processes affecting access to XR-NTX

Alcohol screening among opioid agonist patients in a primary care clinic and an opioid treatment program

Problem alcohol use is associated with adverse health and economic outcomes, especially among people in opioid agonist treatment. Screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) are effective in reducing alcohol use; however, issues involved in SBIRT implementation among opioid agonist patients are unknown. To assess identification and treatment of alcohol use disorders, we reviewed clinical records of opioid agonist patients screened for an alcohol use disorder in a primary care clinic (n =208) and in an opioid treatment program (n = 204) over a two year period. In the primary care clinic, 193 (93%) buprenorphine patients completed an annual alcohol screening and six (3%) had elevated AUDIT scores. Among the patients treated in the opioid treatment program, an alcohol abuse or dependence diagnosis was recorded for 54 (27%) methadone patients. Practitioner focus groups were completed in the primary care (n = 4 physicians) and the opioid treatment program (n = 11 counsellors) to assess experience with and attitudes towards screening opioid agonist patients for alcohol use disorders. Focus groups suggested organizational, structural, provider, patient and community variables hindered or fostered alcohol screening. Alcohol screening is feasible among opioid agonist patients. Effective implementation, however, requires physician training and systematic changes in workflow

Promoting Adoption of Medication for Opioid and Alcohol Use Disorders Through System Change.

ObjectiveThe Medication Research Partnership (MRP), a collaboration between a national commercial health plan and nine addiction treatment centers, implemented organizational and system changes to promote use of federally approved medications for treatment of alcohol and opioid use disorders.MethodA difference-in-differences analysis examined change over time in the percentage of patients receiving a prescription medication for alcohol or opioid use disorders treated in MRP (n = 9) and comparison (n = 15) sites.ResultsMRP clinics experienced a 2.4-fold increase in patients receiving an alcohol or opioid prescription (13.2% at baseline to 31.7% at 3 years after MRP initiation); comparison clinics experienced significantly less change (17.6% to 23.5%) with an adjusted difference-in-differences of 12.5% (95% CI [5.4, 19.6], p = .001). MRP sites increased the patients with prescriptions to treat opioid use disorder from 17.0% (baseline) to 36.8% (3 years after initiation), with smaller changes observed in comparison sites (23.2% to 24.0%) and a 3-year post-initiation adjusted difference-in-differences of 19% (95% CI [8.5, 29.5], p = .000). Medications for alcohol use disorders increased in both MRP (9.0% to 26.5%) and comparison sites (11.4% to 23.1%).ConclusionsPromoting the use of medications to support recovery required complex interventions. The Advancing Recovery System Change Model, initially developed in publicly funded systems of care, was successfully adapted for commercial sector use. The model provides a framework for providers and commercial health plans to collaborate and increase patient access to medications