Factors Affecting Initiation and Retention of Medication-Assisted Recovery (MAR) within a Pilot Pharmacist-Involved Practice Model at a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center (FQHC) during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

Tiffany Nguyen, Chapman University
Thomas Craig Cheetham, Chapman University
Souhiela Fawaz, Chapman UniversityFollow
Richard Beuttler, Chapman UniversityFollow
Sharon Xavioer, Chapman University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-11-2023

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, opioid-related overdose deaths increased. Although Medication-Assisted Treatment or Recovery (MAT or MAR) is available, initiation and retention rates vary. The goal of this study was to evaluate clinical, demographic, and Social Determinant of Health factors affecting MAR initiation, on-time initiation of medications, and successful retention in the program. The secondary goal was to evaluate the impact of a novel interprofessional practice model incorporating pharmacists. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using electronic health record data from a pilot MAR Program initiated within a California Federally Qualified Healthcare Center. Results: From September 2019 to August 2020, 48 patients enrolled into the program. On-time initiation of medications occurred in 68% of patients and average program retention was 96.4 ± 95.8 days. Patients currently using opioids (p = 0.005) and those receiving supportive medications (p = 0.049) had lower odds of on-time MAR initiation. There were no statistically significant factors associated with successful retention in the program. The number of visits with members of the interprofessional team did not significantly affect on-time initiation or successful retention. Conclusions: Current opioid use and receipt of supportive medications were associated with lower on-time medication initiation. Further studies are warranted to explore additional factors which may affect initiation and retention.

Comments

This article was originally published in Healthcare (Basel), volume 11, issue 10, in 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11101393

This scholarship is part of the Chapman University COVID-19 Archives.

Recommended Citation

Nguyen T, Cheetham TC, Fawaz S, Beuttler R, Xavioer S. Factors affecting initiation and retention of Medication-Assisted Recovery (MAR) within a pilot pharmacist-involved practice model at a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center (FQHC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare (Basel). 2023;11(10):1393. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11101393

Copyright

The authors

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.