From: The impact of COVID-19 on healthcare delivery for people who use opioids: a scoping review
Theme/Authors/Country | Study Design(s) | Data Source(s) | Key findings |
---|---|---|---|
Service delivery (n = 7, 47%) | |||
 Prescriptions filled (n = 3) | |||
  McIlveen et al. [17] (U.S./Oregon) | Retrospectiv | Electronic medical record of outpatient OUD treatment centers in Oregon | In-person medication dosing visits declined 33%, and take home medication increased 97% as intended. |
  Jones et al. [18] (U.S./Nationwide) | Retrospective | IQVIA Total Patient Tracker Database | Buprenorphine was dispensed at an expected rate, but intramuscular naloxone was not. |
  Thornton et al. [19] (U.S./Texas) | Retrospective | Texas Prescription Monitoring Program dataset | Filling of daily buprenorphine prescriptions remained steady. |
 EMSa and EDb utilization (n = 4) | |||
  Glober et al. [20] (U.S./Indiana) | Retrospective | EMS and coroner’s office record in Marion County, Indiana | 47% increase in calls for overdose. |
  Holland et al. [21] (U.S./Nationwide) | Retrospective | Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Syndromic Surveillance Program | ED visits for reasons of opioid overdose were significantly higher during the pandemic compared to 2019 rates. |
  Slavova et al. [22] (U.S./Kentucky) | Retrospective | Kentucky State Ambulance Reporting System | 71% increase in refusal of transport to a hospital following an overdose call to EMS. 50% increase in overdose calls involving death at the scene. |
  Weiner et al. [23] (U.S./Massachusetts) | Retrospective | Massachusetts Ambulance Trip Information System | After the stay-at-home order, most calls other than substance use dropped, but substance related EMS calls increased substantially. |
Provider and patient experiences (n = 3, 20%) | |||
 Provider experiences (n = 2) | |||
  Caton et al. [24] (U.S./California) | Cross-sectional | 338 clinicians from 57 primary care clinics in California | 66% of clinics reported an easier time or an unchanged difference in retention and engagement of clients during the pandemic. |
  Collins et al. [25] (U.S./Rhode Island) | Qualitative | 14 Emergency room healthcare providers | Barriers persist in connecting patients to outpatient treatment, including capacity and infrastructure to use telehealth and, COVID-test requirements as a barrier to accessing treatment. |
 Patient experiences (n = 1) | |||
  Krawczyk et al. [26] (International) | Qualitative | 300 posts of Reddit users related to COVID-19 and opioid used | Concerns over less in-person access to OUD treatment facilities, COVID-19 testing treatment requirements and exposure to COVID were reported as an influence on motivation to seek treatment. |
Patient outcomes (n = 5, 33%) | |||
 Overdose (n = 3) | |||
  Khatri et al. [27] (U.S./Pennsylvania) | Retrospective | Philadelphia Dep Health Substance Use Dashboard and Medical Examiner’s Office Data | African Americans comprised 80% of overdose ED visits post-pandemic, compared to 63% pre-pandemic. |
  Ochalek et al. [28] (U.S./Virginia) | Retrospective | Electronic medical record of Virginia Commonwealth University | During the pandemic, 2.5 patients were seen per day in the emergency department with opioid overdose, compared to 1.4 patients per day pre-pandemic. |
  Rodda et al. [29] (U.S./California) | Retrospective | Electronic medical records and medical examiner records in San Francisco | Fatal overdoses significantly increased 60% in Non-Hispanic Black patients post-COVID restrictions, overdoses in Non-Hispanic White patients decreased. |
 Retention in treatment (n = 1) | |||
  Tofighi et al. [30] (U.S./New York) | Retrospective | Bellevue Hospital (NYC) electronic medical record | 56tg6 |