ArticleJournal of primary care & community health
Primary Care Providers' Experiences Treating Opioid Use Disorder Using Telehealth in the Height of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Article in Journal of primary care & community health. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 3 citations in OpenAlex.
- A systematic review of the scope and impact of rural primary healthcare innovations using digital health technology.BMJ open · 2026Pooled it
- Implementation Outcomes of Low Threshold Care for Persons with Opioid Use Disorders.Journal of general internal medicine · 2026Article
- What waiver? A qualitative exploration of awareness of the X-waiver among underserved patients and providers and the impact on tele-OUD services uptake.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a rapid shift in healthcare delivery towards telehealth services, impacting patient care, including opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. Regulatory changes eliminated the in-person evaluation requirement for buprenorphine treatment, encouraging adoption of telehealth. This study focused on understanding experiences of primary care providers in predominantly rural areas who used telehealth for OUD treatment during the pandemic.
methodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 primary care providers. Participants practiced in 13 rural and 9 urban counties in Kentucky and Arkansas. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis.
resultsThe pandemic significantly impacted healthcare delivery. While telehealth was integrated for behavioral health counseling, in-person visits remained crucial, especially for urine drug screenings. Telehealth experiences varied, with some facing technology issues, while others found it efficient. Telehealth proved valuable for behavioral health counseling and sustaining relationships with established patients. Patients with OUD faced unique challenges, including housing, internet, transportation, and counseling needs. Stigma surrounding OUD affected clinical relationships. Building strong patient-provider relationships emerged as a central theme, emphasizing the value of face-to-face interactions. Regarding buprenorphine training, most found waiver training helpful but lacked formal education.
conclusionThis research offers vital guidance for improving OUD treatment services, especially in rural areas during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights telehealth's value as a tool while acknowledging its limitations. The study underscores the significance of strong patient-provider relationships, the importance of reducing stigma, and the potential for training programs to elevate quality of care in OUD treatment.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.