mHealth to Help Pregnant and Postpartum Women in Recovery for Opioid Use Disorder

The opioid epidemic has resulted in widespread detrimental consequences among vulnerable populations in Missouri, especially among pregnant and postpartum women (PPW) with opioid use disorder (OUD). Perinatal use of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) within a comprehensive treatment plan is the current standard of care, however PPW struggling with OUD may underestimate or misjudge its benefits. At the same time, emerging findings signal that mobile health (mHealth) technologies have the potential to support healthier behaviors among individuals with OUD. In this project, we will test the utility of a theoretically-based digital therapeutics tool (uMAT-R) to encourage MAT adherence and treatment retention while considering the unique needs of PPW. In Aim #1, we will conduct four focus groups with PPW with OUD (target users) on the intervention components of uMAT-R, gathering feedback on theory-driven components that are candidates for inclusion in the tool and eliciting suggestions for additional intervention components. In Aim #2, the tool will be beta-tested for technical/navigational issues among 20 participants. In Aim #3, we will conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) among adult PPW with OUD (n=60). This RCT is designed to test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of uMAT-R (n=40) versus a control group (n=20 who receive treatment-as-usual) regarding participants' treatment adherence, sobriety, and improved MAT attitudes, norms, and perceived control. Recruitment for all Aims will occur at a clinic in St. Louis, Missouri that provides perinatal medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and high-risk maternity care to PPW struggling with OUD. Clinically meaningful effect size and attrition estimates will aid in the planning of a larger RCT in which we will test uMAT-R on a larger scale and expand our recruitment to other clinics across Missouri and other states.

This novel technology could be an invaluable tool to assist physicians in the treatment of OUD among PPW.