DOI: 10.3886/icpsr38177.v1
title: Researching Attitudes Towards Medication-Assisted Treatment, United States, 2018-2020
title: Version 1

description: This study used in-depth, semi-structured individual telephone interviews with people in recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD) who had used medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Questions explored their narrative history of recovery, barriers and facilitators to accessing MOUD, perceptions of MOUD efficacy, the relationship between MOUD and 12-step support groups, treatment in the criminal justice system, and development of an ideal treatment facility. Individuals were recruited using a snowball sampling method involving three syringe service programs between 2018 and 2020.
description: This was an exploratory study to understand attitudes towards use of medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder through semi-structured, in-depth interviews.
description: In order to be considered for the study, participants must have been English-speaking adults over the age of 18 who 1) self-identified as in recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD), or 2) were family members of individuals who self-identified as in recovery from OUD. Participants must also have had medication assisted treatment for OUD. The research team utilized snowball sampling initiated at three syringe exchange programs from three different states in 2018. The principal investigator shared a recruitment email with administrators of the syringe exchange programs, who were encouraged to share the recruitment message with the organizations' active participants and the organizations' associates (e.g., community volunteers). Syringe exchange programs could post the recruitment text on their Facebook page, hang flyers at the syringe exchange office, and email potentially interested participants directly. Interested individuals then contacted the principal investigator via email, telephone, or Facebook messenger. In addition, at the conclusion of interviews, the principal investigator asked participants to share the recruitment text with other individuals known to them who matched the inclusion criteria. Participants were not provided a financial incentive. An interview guide was constructed based on a literature review of of OUD treatment preferences, person-centered care in behavioral health treatment, and barriers and facilitators to medications for OUD. During the interview, participants were asked to identify characteristics of an "ideal" substance use disorder treatment center. The following three prompts were used for clarification: "What services would be offered?"; "How would the treatment center be organized?; and "Who would be working there?" Interview questions were piloted on two individuals recovering from OUD with a history of using medications for OUD and then modified prior to implementation. The principal investigator conducted hour-long, in-depth, semi-structured interviews over the telephone. Data were audio-recorded with permission, transcribed, and de-identified. Data were analyzed iteratively during data collection, typically within 2 weeks of interview completion. Recruitment continued until thematic saturation had been reached.
description: Thirty individuals from eight states were recruited through snowball sampling initiated at three syringe service programs. Of the 30 recruited participants, 13 consented to archive their interview transcript.
description: Datasets: DS1: Researching Attitudes Towards Medication-Assisted Treatment, United States, 2018-2020
description: People in recovery from opioid use disorder who have experience with medications for opioid use disorder, or their family members.
description: telephone interviewThis study is part of Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) Qualitative Data Sharing (QDS) project.ICPSR has zipped the 13 interview transcripts into a qualitative data package. This package is available for restricted download. Please refer to the ICPSR README documentation for more information.