PHI news
This article presents the results of a non-randomized controlled trial comparing in-person vs. telemedicine treatment for pregnant women with opioid use disorder in South Carolina. The authors found no statistically significant difference in treatment outcomes for women who received care in-person vs. via telemedicine, and no statistically significant difference in outcomes for the newborns of women in these respective groups. The authors were unable to assign trial participants to telemedicine vs. in-person care at random due to the inability of some rural patients to attend treatment in person. Also, the sample size was not sufficient to achieve ~80% power to detect a difference between the two groups. At the same time, the practice strategy is considered useful for helping to deliver telehealth treatment for vulnerable populations, including pregnant and newly parenting people with substance use disorder, and people living in rural communities.
Resource Details
- Population: People Experiencing Poverty|People Living in Rural Areas|People With Substance Use Disorders
- Setting/Context of Implementation: Clinical
- Topics of Practice: Organizational Change/ Development|Policy Change/ Development
- Outcomes of Interest: Reduction of Health Disparities
- Level of Evidence: Emerging
- Tools or Materials Included in Resource: Yes
- Social Determinants of Health: Social and Community Context
- Outside of US: No