The field of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment is constantly evolving, and staying up-to-date with the latest research is crucial for practitioners. A recent study titled "A facilitation model for implementing quality improvement practices to enhance outpatient substance use disorder treatment outcomes: a stepped-wedge randomized controlled trial study protocol" offers valuable insights into improving treatment outcomes through systematic quality improvement (QI) practices. This blog will explore the key findings and recommendations from this study and how they can be applied in your practice.
Understanding the CARE Intervention
The study introduces a multicomponent clinic-level intervention called Coaching for Addiction Recovery Enhancement (CARE). The CARE intervention aims to improve the quality of SUD treatment by implementing the following components:
- Staff clinical training and tools
- Quality improvement and change management training
- External facilitation to support implementation and sustainability of QI processes
- An electronic client-reported treatment progress tool to support data-driven decision making
Key Findings
The study found that the CARE intervention significantly improved treatment process quality measures, such as the use of medications for opioid use disorder, in-treatment symptom and therapeutic progress, and treatment retention. Additionally, recovery outcomes, including substance use, health, and healthcare utilization, also showed improvement.
Practical Applications
To implement the findings from this study in your practice, consider the following steps:
- Invest in Staff Training: Ensure that your staff is well-trained in clinical practices and quality improvement methods. This can be achieved through interactive web-based trainings and moderated discussions.
- Engage Leadership: Gain buy-in from executive-level leadership to ensure the availability of resources for QI processes and clinical practice changes.
- Form a Change Team: Establish a structured team within your clinic to conduct QI and change management activities. This team should be supported by an external facilitator.
- Utilize Technology: Implement an electronic client-reported treatment progress tool to monitor clinical outcomes and support data-driven decision making.
Encouraging Further Research
While the CARE intervention has shown promising results, continuous improvement and adaptation are essential. Practitioners are encouraged to stay informed about the latest research and consider conducting their own studies to further refine and enhance treatment practices.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: A facilitation model for implementing quality improvement practices to enhance outpatient substance use disorder treatment outcomes: a stepped-wedge randomized controlled trial study protocol.
