Patient experiences of buprenorphine dispensing from a mobile medical unit
Messmer, Sarah E.; Elmes, Abigail T.; Infante, Alexander F.; Patterson, Anna; Smith, Mackenzie; Murphy, Albert Leon; Jimenez, Antonio D.; Mayer, Stockton; Watson, Dennis P.; Whitfield, Kevin; Fisher, Steven J.; Jarrett, Jennie B.
Why this matters
Programs debating whether to dispense buprenorphine on board rather than write prescriptions have a direct answer here. Of 54 patients surveyed in Chicago, 87 percent said they would not have started buprenorphine that day without the mobile unit, and 83 percent of those who had used a pharmacy before reported at least one barrier there.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Overdose deaths continue to rise within the United States, despite effective treatments such as buprenorphine and methadone for opioid use disorder (OUD). Mobile medical units with the ability to dispense buprenorphine have been developed to engage patients and eliminate barriers to accessing OUD treatment. This study reports survey responses of patients of a mobile medical unit dispensing buprenorphine in areas of Chicago, IL with high overdose rates. METHODS: All patients who were dispensed buprenorphine via the mobile medical unit were invited to participate in a 7-item anonymous survey between May 24, 2023, and August 25, 2023. RESULTS: 106 unique patients were dispensed buprenorphine from the mobile unit during the study period. Of these patients, 54 (51%) completed the survey. Respondents reported high satisfaction with the buprenorphine dispensing process as a part of a mobile medical unit. Of those who had previously filled buprenorphine at a pharmacy, 83% reported at least one barrier, with delays in prescription dispensing from a community pharmacy, lack of transportation to/from the pharmacy, and opioid withdrawal symptoms being the most common barriers. 87% reported they would not have started buprenorphine that same day if the mobile medical unit had not been present. Nearly half of survey participants reported having taken buprenorphine that was not prescribed to them. Qualitative analysis of open-ended survey responses noted the importance of convenient accessibility, comprehensive care, and a non-judgmental environment. CONCLUSIONS: Mobile medical units that dispense buprenorphine are an innovative model to reach patients with OUD who have significant treatment access barriers.