Engagement in Early Intervention Services Among Mothers in Recovery From Opioid Use Disorders

Use of Behavioral Health Treatment Among Parenting Women With Opioid Use Disorder in the United States

OBJECTIVE

To examine use of mental health treatment, substance use disorder treatment, and perceived barriers to treatment by whether a major depressive episode occurred during the past year among parenting women with opioid use disorder.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of survey data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2015-2019.

SETTING

United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Women aged 18 to 44 years with opioid use disorder and at least one child in the household.

METHODS

We computed descriptive statistics for demographic characteristics, treatment by major depressive episode status, and barriers to treatment by major depressive episode status. We conducted multinomial logistic regression to examine associations among demographic characteristics, major depressive episode status, and type of treatment.

RESULTS

Of the 36% of respondents in our weighted sample (N ≈ 254,300) who experienced major depressive episode, 35% received substance use disorder and mental health treatment, and 27% did not receive any form of treatment. We found that identification as a person of color was significantly associated with a lower relative risk of receiving any type of treatment. Frequently reported barriers to treatment included affordability, access, and stigma.

CONCLUSION

Respondents with opioid use disorder and co-occurring major depressive episode did not obtain necessary treatment. Barriers to treatment, including affordability, access to treatment, and stigma, need to be addressed, particularly among women of color.

Patient and Provider Perspectives on Processes of Engagement in Outpatient Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: A Scoping Review

Effective treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) is available, but patient engagement is central to achieving care outcomes. We conducted a scoping review to describe patient and provider-reported strategies that may contribute to patient engagement in outpatient OUD care delivery. We searched PubMed and Scopus for articles reporting patient and/or provider experiences with outpatient OUD care delivery. Analysis included: (1) describing specific engagement strategies, (2) mapping strategies to patient-centered care domains, and (3) identifying themes that characterize the relationship between engagement and patient-centered care. Of 3,222 articles screened, 30 articles met inclusion criteria. Analysis identified 14 actionable strategies that facilitate patient engagement and map to all patient-centered care domains. Seven themes emerged that characterize interpersonal approaches to OUD care engagement. Interpersonal interactions between patients and providers play a pivotal role in encouraging engagement throughout OUD treatment. Future research is needed to further evaluate promising engagement strategies.

Mutual Mistrust: The Multilayered Experiences at the Intersection of Healthcare and Early Parenting Among Mothers With Opioid Use Disorder

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to explore the early parenting experiences among a cohort of postpartum individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) both during and after the delivery hospitalization to identify areas of intervention to strengthen bonding and attachment.

METHODS

Semistructured qualitative interviews with recently pregnant people with OUD assessed parenting needs, supports, and goals in the context of the demands of addiction treatment and early motherhood. Probes explored the relationship between early parenting experiences, addiction, and recovery, as well as enabling factors and barriers to mother-infant bonding. Interviews were completed between 2019 to 2020. A constant comparative methods approach was used for codebook development and analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-six women completed interviews a mean of 10.1 months postpartum. Twenty-four women were receiving methadone or buprenorphine treatment at delivery for OUD. Four interrelated themes emerged. Women experienced the following: (1) increased surveillance from healthcare workers who doubted their parenting ability; (2) a desire for a "normal" early parenting experience that was not disrupted by increased medical monitoring and surveillance; (3) complex and intersecting identities of being both a mother and a person in recovery; and (4) the importance of support from and advocacy by clinicians and peers to developing maternal confidence and connection.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions are needed to improve the early parenting experiences of opioid-exposed mother-infant dyads, to address the mutual mistrust between health care providers and parents, and to provide additional supports to families. Promotion of positive attachment and parental self-efficacy should be prioritized over increased surveillance and scrutiny to sustain maternal recovery trajectories into early childhood and foster family well-being.

Prevalence and Predictors of Early Intervention Referral Among Substance-Exposed Newborns

OBJECTIVES

Substance-exposed newborns (SENs) are at risk for developmental delay(s). Early intervention (EI) access, key to addressing these risks, is inequitable. Objectives were to: 1. determine prevalence of EI referral in the Colorado Hospitals Substance-Exposed Newborn Quality Improvement Collaborative; and 2. evaluate predictors of referral.

METHODS

Within participating Colorado Hospitals Substance-Exposed Newborn hospitals, maternal-infant dyads with exposure to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), illicit/prescription opioids, and/or nonopioid substances were included on the basis of electronic medical record documentation. χ2, Fisher's exact, and analysis of variance tests evaluated differences in maternal/infant characteristics by referral. Multivariable Poisson regression models assessed the independent association of characteristics with referral.

RESULTS

Among 1222 dyads, 504 (41%) SENs received EI referral. Infants born to mothers with non-MOUD (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 2.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.67-2.76) and polysubstance (aRR 1.58, 95% CI 1.26-1.97) exposure were less likely to receive referral compared with infants born to mothers with MOUD exposure. Those with private (aRR 1.26, 95% CI 1.03-1.55) or self-pay/no insurance (aRR 12.32, 95% CI 10.87-13.96) were less likely to receive referral compared with infants with public insurance.

CONCLUSIONS

Less than half of identified SENs received EI referral, with variation by substance exposure and maternal insurance status. Systems to ensure equitable access to services are crucial.

Stigma Experienced by Perinatal Women with Opioid Dependency in the United States: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis

Stigma is a barrier to accessing care and treatment for perinatal women with pain and opioid dependency, resulting in increased maternal/neonatal morbidity and mortality, prolonged neonatal hospitalizations, and increased healthcare-related costs. This theory-generating qualitative meta-synthesis includes 18 qualitative research reports and describes the stigma-related experiences of perinatal women with opioid dependency. A model emerged consisting of cyclical yet pivotal care points, facilitators/deterrents of stigma, and stigma experiences including infant-associative stigma. Findings of this qualitative meta-synthesis include the following: (a) Perinatal stigma experiences may prevent women from accessing care; (b) Infant-associative stigma may influence the woman to deflect stigma from her infant onto herself; and (c) There is the risk of mothers withdrawing their infants from healthcare to protect from future anticipated stigma. Implications reveal ideal time points to enact healthcare interventions to reduce perinatal stigma experiences and its consequences on maternal/child health and wellness.

Adaptation of an evidence-based parenting intervention for integration into maternal-child home-visiting programs: Challenges and solutions

Background

The objective of this study was to assess potential challenges, prioritize adaptations, and develop an implementation and research approach to integrate and study a parenting intervention for mothers in recovery from substance use disorders in community-based home-visiting programs.

Method

An explanatory mixed-methods design, guided by process mapping with Failure Modes and Effects Analysis tools, and an Advisory Panel of 15 community members, identified potential implementation challenges and recommended solutions for the proposed intervention within five pre-specified domains. Thematic content analysis identified themes from detailed field notes.

Results

The Advisory Panel identified 44 potential challenges across all domains. They determined that the recruitment domain was most likely to create challenges. Regarding the potential challenges, two cross-domain themes emerged: (1) development of mistrust in the community and (2) difficulty initiating and sustaining engagement. Potential solutions and adaptations to protocols are reported.

Conclusion

Mistrust in the community was cited as a potentially important challenge for the delivery and study of an evidence-based parenting intervention for mothers in recovery through home-visiting programs. Adaptations to research protocols and intervention delivery strategies are needed to prioritize the psychological safety of families, particularly for groups that have been historically stigmatized.

Patients' Perceptions of Physical Therapists Addressing Opioid Misuse

INTRODUCTION

In the US, rising numbers of patients who misuse illicit or prescribed opioids provides opportunities for physical therapists (PTs) to be engaged in their care. Prior to this engagement, it is necessary to understand the perceptions of patients who access physical therapy services about their PTs playing such a role. This project examined patients' perceptions of PTs addressing opioid misuse.

METHODS

We surveyed patients, newly encountering outpatient physical therapy services in a large University-based healthcare setting, via anonymous, web-based survey. Within the survey, questions were rated on a Likert scale (1 = completely disagree to 7 = completely agree) and we evaluated responses of patients who were prescribed opioids versus those who were not.

RESULTS

Among 839 respondents, the highest mean score was 6.2 (SD = 1.5) for "It is OK for physical therapists to refer their patients with prescription opioid misuse to a specialist to address the opioid misuse." The lowest mean score was 5.6 (SD = 1.9) for "It is OK for physical therapists to ask their patient why they are misusing prescription opioids." Compared to those with no prescription opioid exposure while attending physical therapy, patients with prescription opioid exposure had lower agreement that it was OK for the physical therapist to refer their patients with opioid misuse to a specialist (β = -.33, 95% CI = -0.63 to -0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients attending outpatient physical therapy seem to support PTs addressing opioid misuse and there are differences in support based on whether the patients had exposure to opioids.

Relationship-Based Home Visiting Services for Families Affected by Substance Use Disorders: A Qualitative Study

Home visiting programs face many challenges when providing evidence-based services to families affected by substance use disorders (SUDs). We conducted interviews and focus groups with community stakeholders and parents to elucidate important considerations when intentionally attempting to meet the needs of families affected by SUDs through home visiting programs. We identified one primary theme "Who is the client?" that describes how to ensure caregivers perceive themselves as an important focus of the program. Collectively, participants revealed that understanding caregivers' emotional experiences was critical for effectively transforming their subjective experiences of the program. These emotional experiences were related to the quality of their relationships with their children, other family members, and service providers. Three sub-themes illustrate specific examples: 1) responding to the unique emotional needs of mothers in recovery, 2) considering emotional states to inform inclusion in programs, and 3) addressing complex family dynamics related to SUDs in the home. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Factors contributing to level and type of child welfare involvement following prenatal substance exposure: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

An understanding of factors contributing to variation in child welfare outcomes in cases of prenatal substance exposure (PSE) can help identify gaps in research and practice and guide state and agency policy.

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the evidence base and identify critical gaps in the literature, we conducted a scoping review regarding individual- and institutional-level factors associated with child welfare decision-marking across the service continuum and caregivers' perceptions of child welfare involvement in cases of PSE.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

The sample included peer-reviewed studies based in the United States.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive search of four databases for studies investigating 1) sociodemographic, behavioral, policy, or other factors contributing to variation in child welfare outcomes and 2) maternal, family, or provider perceptions of the child welfare process in cases of PSE. We followed an established methodological framework for conducting scoping reviews.

RESULTS

Of the 23 articles included in the review, 20 explored variation in decision-making across the child welfare services continuum and three examined caregivers' perceptions of child welfare involvement. At the institutional level, provider characteristics, such as agency capacity, were linked to specific child welfare outcomes including reports and removals. At the individual level, factors such as socioeconomic status, race, and substance type were also associated with outcomes across the service continuum.

CONCLUSIONS

Child welfare agencies use an unsystematic approach in addressing PSE, contributing to a variation in child welfare outcomes and potentially allowing for bias. This review highlights a need for increased resources and guidance for caseworkers.

Mothering from the Inside Out: Addressing the Intersection of Addiction, Adversity, and Attachment with Evidence-Based Parenting Intervention

Purpose of Review

Mothers with substance use disorders are often referred for parenting support, though commonly available programs may miss the mark for families impacted by addiction. This may be related to a lack of attention to children's emotional needs, mothers' histories of adversity, and the neurobiological differences seen in mothers with addictions. We review the implications of addiction, adversity, and attachment for parenting interventions. We then describe Mothering from the Inside Out (MIO), an evidence-based parenting intervention designed specifically for mothers with addictions.

Recent Findings

Evidence from clinical trials suggests that MIO improves outcomes for two generations: both mothers with addictions and their children. Recent trials demonstrate that MIO may be delivered effectively by community-based clinicians and may be beneficial for parents with other chronic stressors.

Summary

Addressing addiction, adversity, and attachment simultaneously may have a positive synergistic effect. Future research should study the implementation of MIO in real-world settings and examine the impact of MIO on maternal neurobiology.

What aspects of their child's primary care do mothers value? A qualitative analysis of perspectives of women in treatment for opioid use disorder

BACKGROUND

Preventive paediatric healthcare is essential for infant and child health. Current research, however, suggests that the delivery of routine well child care (WCC) for children affected by maternal opioid use disorder (OUD) could be improved. How mothers perceive interactions with healthcare providers may help identify ways to modify the experience of WCC, which could ultimately improve healthcare utilization, patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. The objective of this qualitative study was to assess perceptions of WCC among mothers in treatment for OUD.

METHODS

Four focus group sessions of 4-8 participants each (N = 22) were conducted. All study participants were receiving comprehensive behavioural and physical health support and care plus pharmacotherapy for OUD from a single outpatient treatment centre. Focus groups were semi-structured, with a standardized set of open-ended questions and follow-up prompts to engage participants in a fluid discussion. Participants were asked to identify and discuss important aspects of their youngest child's WCC and what they liked and disliked about their child's WCC. Grounded theory analysis was used to identify themes.

RESULTS

Several aspects of WCC were identified as important to the mothers. Main themes identified included (1) mother-provider relationship, (2) communication with healthcare team and (3) support for mother's OUD treatment. Participants discussed their desire to be heard and understood and wanted the entire healthcare team and clinic staff to see them as mothers first and foremost, not merely as individuals with OUD.

CONCLUSION

Future attempts to refine care may consider healthcare models that highlight open communication and personalized care and offer strong support and ongoing encouragement for the mother's OUD treatment and recovery process.