TY  - JOUR
AU  - Smith, Crystal L
AU  - Keever, Abigail
AU  - Bowden, Theresa
AU  - Olson, Katie
AU  - Rodin, Nicole
AU  - McDonell, Michael G
AU  - Roll, John M
AU  - Smoody, Gillian
AU  - LeBrun, Jeff
AU  - Miguel, Andre QC
AU  - McPherson, Sterling M
PY  - 2023
DA  - 2023/4/19
TI  - Patient Feedback on a Mobile Medication Adherence App for Buprenorphine and Naloxone: Closed and Open-Ended Survey on Feasibility and Acceptability
JO  - JMIR Form Res
SP  - e40437
VL  - 7
KW  - opioids
KW  - mobile technology
KW  - medication adherence
KW  - buprenorphine
KW  - naloxone
KW  - opioid use disorder
KW  - opioid agonist therapy
KW  - medication-assisted treatment
KW  - medications for opioid use disorder
KW  - opioid
KW  - opioid use
KW  - well-being
KW  - quality of life
KW  - clinic
KW  - technology
KW  - medication
KW  - remote
KW  - coaching
KW  - tracking
KW  - stress
KW  - incentive
KW  - tool
KW  - mobile phone
AB  - Background: Opioid use disorders impact the health and well-being of millions of Americans. Buprenorphine and naloxone (BUP and NAL) can reduce opioid overdose deaths, decrease misuse, and improve quality of life. Unfortunately, poor medication adherence is a primary barrier to the long-term efficacy of BUP and NAL. Objective: We aimed to examine patient feedback on current and potential features of a Bluetooth-enabled pill bottle cap and associated mobile app for patients prescribed BUP and NAL for an opioid use disorder, and to solicit recommendations for improvement to effectively and appropriately tailor the technology for people in treatment for opioid use disorder. Methods: A convenience sample of patients at an opioid use disorder outpatient clinic were asked about medication adherence, opioid cravings, experience with technology, motivation for treatment, and their existent support system through a brief e-survey. Patients also provided detailed feedback on current features and features being considered for inclusion in a technology designed to increase medication adherence (eg, inclusion of a personal motivational factor, craving and stress tracking, incentives, and web-based coaching). Participants were asked to provide suggestions for improvement and considerations specifically applicable to people in treatment for opioid use disorder with BUP and NAL. Results: Twenty people with an opioid use disorder who were prescribed BUP and NAL participated (mean age 34, SD 8.67 years; 65% female; 80% White). Participants selected the most useful, second-most useful, and least useful features presented; 42.1% of them indicated that motivational reminders would be most useful, followed by craving and stress tracking (26.3%) and web-based support forums (21.1%). Every participant indicated that they had at least 1 strong motivating factor for staying in treatment, and half (n=10) indicated children as that factor. All participants indicated that they had, at some point in their lives, the most extreme craving a person could have; however, 42.1% indicated that they had no cravings in the last month. Most respondents (73.7%) stated that tracking cravings would be helpful. Most respondents (84.2%) also indicated that they believed reinforcers or prizes would help them achieve their treatment goals. Additionally, 94.7% of respondents approved of adherence tracking to accommodate this feature using smart packaging, and 78.9% of them approved of selfie videos of them taking their medication. Conclusions: Engaging patients taking treatment for opioid use disorder with BUP and NAL allowed us to identify preferences and considerations that are unique to this treatment area. As the technology developer of the pill cap and associated mobile app is able to take into consideration or integrate these preferences and suggestions, the smart cap and associated mobile app will become tailored to this population and more useful for them, which may encourage patient use of the smart cap and associated mobile app. 
SN  - 2561-326X
UR  - https://formative.jmir.org/2023/1/e40437
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/40437
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37074780
DO  - 10.2196/40437
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/40437
ER  -