Follow-Up Patterns at a Low-Threshold Mobile Medical Unit Providing Opioid Use Disorder Care in an Urban Setting: A Group-Based Trajectory Modeling Approach.
Shah, Kanya K.; Elmes-Patel, Abigail T.; Messmer, Sarah; Winn, Aaron; Kong, Angela; Sharp, Lisa K.; Touchette, Daniel R.
Why this matters
Retention reported as a single number hides how differently patients actually use a mobile unit. Trajectory modeling of 964 people at a Chicago unit found five distinct patterns, with 56 percent making a single visit and smaller groups showing slow decline, fast decline, infrequent use, or continued use.
Study details
Abstract
The UIC COIP mobile medical unit dispensed MOUD to individuals with high need. Group-based trajectory modeling identified five follow-up patterns among 964 eligible individuals: slow-decline (6%), fast-decline (16%), infrequent (18%), continued use (4%), and single-visit (56%). These findings contextualize previously reported dichotomous retention rates and provide insights into how patients may utilize the mobile unit to accomplish individualized treatment goals.