"Come try it out. Get your foot in the door:" Exploring patient perspectives on low-barrier treatment for opioid use disorder.

purposeLow-barrier treatment is an emerging strategy for opioid use disorder (OUD) care that prioritizes access to evidence-based medication while minimizing requirements that may limit treatment access in more traditional delivery models, particularly for marginalized patients. Our objective was to explore patient perspectives about low-barrier approaches, with a focus on understanding barriers to and facilitators of engagement from the patient point of view.

methodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with patients accessing buprenorphine treatment from a multi-site, low-barrier mobile treatment program in Philadelphia, PA from July-December 2021. We analyzed interview data using thematic content analysis and identified key themes.

resultsThe 36 participants were 58% male, 64% Black, 28% White, and 31% Latinx. 89% were enrolled in Medicaid, and 47% were unstably housed. Our analysis revealed three main facilitators of treatment in the low-barrier model. These included 1) program structure that met participant needs, such as flexibility, rapid medication access and robust case management services; 2) harm reduction approach that included acceptance of patient goals other than abstinence and provision of harm reduction services on-site; and 3) strong interpersonal connections with team members, including those with lived experience. Participants contrasted these experiences with other care they had received in the past. Barriers related to lack of structure, limitations of street-based care, and limited support for co-occurring needs, particularly mental health.

conclusionsThis study provides key patient perspectives on low-barrier approaches for OUD treatment. Our findings can inform future program design to increase treatment access and engagement for individuals poorly served by traditional delivery models.