Open Trial of Technology-Enhanced Behavioral Intervention for Buprenorphine Retention in Pregnant and Postpartum People

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)

Status and phase: Active, not recruiting; Early Phase 1

Conditions: Opioid Use Disorder; Pregnancy Related

Treatments: Behavioral: Empowering Pregnant Women and People Receiving Medications for Opioid Use Disorder

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT06496230

K12DA031794 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Pro00137982

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study involves testing how useful a technology-enhanced intervention is for pregnant people prescribed buprenorphine for the management of opioid use disorder. The intervention being studied is a brief therapy protocol and a mobile application. Participation involves four 60-minute therapy appointments during pregnancy, and four 30-minute therapy appointments at the end of pregnancy through 3 months postpartum. The mobile application will be accessible for at least the duration of the study. Participants will also be asked to complete questionnaires at enrollment and again at 1-month postpartum and 3-months postpartum, will send monthly photos of their prescription bottle/box, and will be contacted randomly throughout the study to perform a medication count. The total duration of the study is between 5-9 months depending on when you enroll (early second trimester-mid third trimester). Compensation is provided.

Full description

Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) can effectively prevent overdose and death for pregnant and postpartum people with opioid use disorder (OUD). Yet, only half of birthing people continue to use MOUD postpartum, increasing risk for overdose two-fold. This study will evaluate acceptability of a technology-enhanced behavioral intervention that aims to improve retention in and adherence to MOUD during the peripartum period. The intervention contains a brief behavioral intervention targeting malleable risk factors for treatment dropout, opioid cravings, and return to illicit opioid use: anxiety sensitivity and sleep deficiency. An adjunctive mobile application will supplement therapy sessions and contains a medication adherence feature involving daily (or multiple/day) notification reminder to take medication at a scheduled time and dose consistent with the participant's prescription.

Enrollment: 26 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Currently pregnant and less than 33 weeks gestational age,
• History of OUD within past 3 years,
• Confirmed prescription for sublingual buprenorphine products (i.e., Suboxone, Subutex, Zubsolv) for the purpose of treating OUD,
• Living in the United States,
• Between 18-45 years of age.

Exclusion criteria

• Carrying multiples (i.e., twins, triplets, etc.);
• High-risk pregnancies including the following conditions: hyperemesis defined as hospitalization for intractable nausea and vomiting, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (e.g., gestational hypertension, preeclampsia), placenta previa, or vaginal bleeding in current pregnancy after the first trimester;
• Current psychotic symptoms and/or active suicidal intent;
• Experiencing cognitive or emotional impairment that precludes providing informed consent;
• Incarcerated/pending incarceration or institutionalized during the study period.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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26 participants in 1 patient group

Empowering Pregnant Women and People Receiving Medications for Opioid Use Disorder

Experimental group

Description:

EMPWR is a two-pronged intervention model comprised of 1) a provider-driven, telemedicine-based behavioral intervention to mitigate anxiety sensitivity and sleep deficiency and enhance peripartum buprenorphine retention, and 2) an adjunctive mobile application to promote patients' buprenorphine adherence and use of therapy skills learned through the behavioral intervention. The EMPWR therapy protocol is comprised of five 30-60-minute sessions delivered weekly or biweekly by a therapist during the second and/or third trimester of pregnancy, and three 30-minute booster sessions delivered months 1-3 postpartum.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Empowering Pregnant Women and People Receiving Medications for Opioid Use Disorder