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Navigation Services to Avoid Rehospitalization (NavSTAR)

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Cocaine Use Disorder
Opioid-use Disorder
Alcohol Use Disorder
Interventions
Behavioral: NavSTAR
Registration Number
NCT02599818
Lead Sponsor
Friends Research Institute, Inc.
Brief Summary

This study will examine the clinical effectiveness and health economic profile of services to link hospital patients with substance use disorders to addiction treatment, promote their medical stabilization, and reduce hospital re-admissions.

Detailed Description

In recent years, the problem of rehospitalization has come under intense focus as a major contributor to preventable morbidity and escalating healthcare costs. Substance use disorders are strongly associated with poor health outcomes and highly inefficient use of healthcare services, including repeat hospitalizations. Interventions that increase adherence to recommendations for outpatient medical care and substance abuse treatment could potentially help recently-hospitalized individuals with substance use disorders to avoid unnecessary rehospitalization, associated morbidity, and medical expenses. The current study is a randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of Navigation Services to Avoid Rehospitalization (NavSTAR) vs. Treatment-as-Usual (TAU) for hospital patients with co-occurring medical problems and substance use disorders. Applying Andersen's theoretical model of health service utilization, NavSTAR will employ the promising strategies of Patient Navigation and motivational interventions to facilitate engagement in outpatient medical and substance abuse treatment, thereby lowering the likelihood of rehospitalization. Patient Navigators embedded within the substance abuse consultation liaison service at a large urban hospital will deliver patient-centered, proactive navigation and motivational services initiated during the hospital stay and continued for 3 months post-discharge. Participants randomized to TAU will receive usual care from the hospital and the substance abuse consultation liaison service, which includes referral to substance abuse treatment but no continued contact post-hospital discharge. Participants will be assessed at study entry and again at 3-, 6-, and 12-months follow-up on various measures of healthcare utilization, substance use, and functioning. The primary outcome of interest is time-to-rehospitalization through 12 months. In addition, a range of secondary outcomes spanning the medical and substance abuse service areas will be assessed. The study will include an economic evaluation of the cost, incremental cost-effectiveness, and cost-benefits of NavSTAR from the service provider perspective.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
400
Inclusion Criteria
  1. adult (ages 18 and older) hospital patients;
  2. current DSM-5 SUD (not in remission) for alcohol, cocaine, or opioids
  3. willing and able to provide informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
  1. current enrollment in SUD treatment;
  2. primary residence outside of Baltimore City;
  3. pregnant;
  4. terminal medical condition (e.g., planned discharge to hospice);
  5. hospitalized for a suicide attempt.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
NavSTARNavSTARParticipants in this arm will receive services from the NavSTAR Patient Navigation team. The Patient Navigator will work with patients for up to 3 months post-hospital discharge to resolve internal barriers (e.g., ambivalence about treatment; low motivation; competing life demands, etc.) and external barriers (e.g., lack of transportation; lack of ID card, etc.) to appropriate utilization and engagement in addiction treatment and medical care. Interventions include motivational interventions and patient navigation with proactive case management, tailored to participants' specific needs.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Time-to-Rehospitalization12 months

Days to rehospitalization

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Mortality3, 6, 12 months

all-cause mortality

opioid use (urine test)3, 6, 12 months

opioid use assessed via urine test

Cumulative days of inpatient hospitalization3, 6, 12 months

cumulative days of inpatient hospitalization

Emergency Department utilization rate3, 6, 12 months

rate of Emergency Department utilization

30-day rehospitalization rate30 days

rate of rehospitalization within 30 days

Emergency Department visits3, 6, 12 months

cumulative number of Emergency Department visits

opioid use (self-report)3, 6, 12 months

days of opioid use in the past 30 days assessed via self-report

cocaine use disorder criteria3, 6, 12 months

acute substance use disorder criteria for cocaine

addiction treatment entry3, 6, 12 months

rate of entry into addiction treatment

alcohol use disorder criteria3, 6, 12 months

acute substance use disorder criteria for alcohol

medical follow-up care3, 6, 12 months

entry into recommended medical follow-up care post-hospital discharge

cocaine use (self-report)3, 6, 12 months

days of cocaine use in the past 30 days assessed via self-report

cocaine use (urine test)3, 6, 12 months

cocaine use assessed via urine test

self-reported quality of life rating3, 6, 12 months

quality of life scores as determined by the WHO-QOL BREF

alcohol use (self-report)3, 6, 12 months

days of alcohol use in the past 30 days assessed via self-report

opioid use disorder criteria3, 6, 12 months

acute substance use disorder criteria for opioids

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Maryland Medical Center

🇺🇸

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

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