Improving Substance Abuse Counseling Adherence Using Web-based Videoconferencing

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This research is being done to compare the effectiveness of standard on-site, in-person counseling with Internet web-based videoconferencing (e-therapy) in drug-dependent patients in opioid-agonist treatment programs. The study is looking to see if there are any differences in satisfaction or in treatment outcome if counseling sessions are given by e-therapy compared to standard, in-person counseling given in the clinic. The e-therapy happens in real time- it works very much like standard therapy in the clinic except that the patient is in his or her own home (or other convenient location outside the clinic) and talks to and sees the therapist through an Internet connection on the computer (the therapist will usually be at the clinic).

Detailed Description
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This study will be the first to evaluate the efficacy of an accredited and currently available, Internet web-based videoconferencing platform to deliver routine schedules of counseling in an opioid agonist treatment program. It has outstanding potential to help determine transportability of this technology to other treatment programs by demonstrating the benefits of integration of web-based therapy with on-site services to expand the continuum of care.

Official Title
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Improving Substance Abuse Counseling Adherence Using Web-based Videoconferencing

Conditions
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Substance Abuse Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: eGet


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Access to a computer with Internet capability Full adherence to their routine counseling schedule over the previous 30-days Negative urine specimens over the previous 30-days Patient at ATS for 90 days Exclusion Criteria: No access to a computer with Internet capability

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Internet (eGetgoing)<br>Subjects will assigned to use an accredited web-based platform (eGetgoingTM, CRC Health Group, Inc.) to deliver routine substance abuse counseling. | Behavioral: eGet<br>* eGet individual counseling sessions from home will be scheduled weekly for 12 weeks.<br>|
| No Intervention: Routine on-site<br>Subjects will attend routine face-to-face individual counseling sessions. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Counseling efficacy | Attendance to individual counseling sessions, both online and on-site will be tracked weekly for the duration of the study. | Weekly for 12 weeks | 
| Reinforcement value (eGetgoing) | Subjects will complete monthly surveys to evaluate the reinforcement value of eGetgoing using a multiple choice design that will compare its perceived value to other aspects of routine treatment (e.g., take-home medications). | Monthly for 3 months | 
| Reinforcement value (on-site) | Subjects will complete a survey to evaluate the reinforcement value of eGetgoing using a multiple choice design that will compare its perceived value to other aspects of routine treatment (e.g., take-home medications). | Baseline | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Program Satisfaction | Subjects will complete a survey to assess their overall program satisfaction | Baseline and monthly for 3 months | 
| Treatment cost | Subjects will complete surveys to measure treatment related time and monetary travel costs. | Baseline and Month 3 | 
| Therapeutic relationship | Subjects and their therapists will complete surveys to assess qualities of the therapeutic relationship. | Baseline and monthly for 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Web based videoconferencing, methadone, substance abuse counseling