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.
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.