Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39707438›Full record

ArticleHarm reduction journal2024

Understanding the financial barriers to treatment among individuals with opioid use disorder: a focus group study.

Precious Anyanwu, Olajumoke A Olateju, Vaishnavi Tata, Tyler Varisco, Lauren R Gilbert, Motolani E Ogunsanya, E James Essien, Michael L Johnson, J Douglas Thornton

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Harm reduction journal, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
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  7. Examining geographic disparities in access to no-cost naloxone in North Carolina: A cross-sectional survey of naloxone distribution programs.The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association · 2025
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Precious AnyanwuDepartment of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Health 2 Building, 4349 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77204-5047, USA.
Olajumoke A OlatejuDepartment of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Health 2 Building, 4349 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77204-5047, USA.
Vaishnavi TataDepartment of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Health 2 Building, 4349 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77204-5047, USA.
Tyler VariscoDepartment of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Health 2 Building, 4349 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77204-5047, USA.
Lauren R GilbertDepartment of Health Systems and Population Health Sciences, University of Houston College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77204, USA.
Motolani E OgunsanyaDepartment of Pharmacy, Clinical and Administrative Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73117, USA.
E James EssienDepartment of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Health 2 Building, 4349 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77204-5047, USA.
Michael L JohnsonDepartment of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Health 2 Building, 4349 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77204-5047, USA.
J Douglas ThorntonDepartment of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Health 2 Building, 4349 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77204-5047, USA. jdthornt@central.uh.edu.

Funding

Mentoring Emerging Scientists for Careers in Substance Use ResearchR25DA035163 · NIDA · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI Carmen L Masson, Gideon St.Helen · 2014 to 2026
$4.6M
NIDA NIH HHS R25 DA035163
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionDespite the established effectiveness and relatively widespread availability of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder, individuals seeking treatment frequently encounter various structural and social barriers, including costs of treatment. This study aimed to understand the financial barriers that affect treatment continuation in individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD).

methodsIn this qualitative study, seven semi-structured in-depth focus group interviews were conducted among 28 participants in treatment for OUD. Basic demographic information were collected in a pre-focus group survey. Focus group interviews were conducted from December 2021 to February 2022. A moderator guide was used to facilitate the discussion. Transcripts were managed using ATLAS.ti© v7. Data collected from the focus groups underwent deductive thematic analysis.

resultsData saturation was reached in 7 focus groups with a total of 28 participants (17 [60.7%] women; 27 [96.4%] white; 24 [85.7%] non-Hispanic). All three medications for OUD were represented (18 [64.3%] buprenorphine and naloxone, 5 [17.9%] methadone, 3 [10.7%] naltrexone, and 2 [7.1%] buprenorphine) and the time in treatment ranged from 1 month to over 36 months. Nearly all participants (27 [96.4%]) indicated a financial barrier that led to delayed treatment initiation and treatment retention. Two themes were identified from the focus group interviews: (1) OUD treatment-related financial burden- the direct and indirect cost associated with the treatment, and (2) psychosocial effects associated with the cost of OUD treatment -the mental, emotional, and social effects of the disease.

conclusionsMost participants described the desire and need for resources to offset the unaffordable cost that inhibits treatment initiation and retention. Further work is required to help identify individuals susceptible to financial barriers that can lead to early discontinuation in treatment.

Indexed as

Focus GroupsHealth Services AccessibilityMethadoneOpiate Substitution TreatmentOpioid-Related DisordersAdultBuprenorphineFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNarcotic AntagonistsQualitative ResearchYoung AdultBuprenorphineMethadoneNarcotic AntagonistsFinancial barriersFinancial distressFocus groupMOUDOpioid use disorder

Identifiers

PMID39707438
PMCPMC11660775

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.