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University of Oklahoma researchers pioneer smartphone-based interventions to address treatment gaps
In the face of alarmingly low rates of treatment for substance abuse disorders across the United States, researchers at the University of Oklahoma (OU) are leading the charge in leveraging mobile health technologies to bridge the gap. Dr. Michael Businelle, co-director of the TSET Health Promotion Center at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, and his team are spearheading efforts to create accessible and evidence-based treatments for those unable or unwilling to pursue traditional in-person interventions.
In a recent paper published in the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, Dr. Businelle outlined the current landscape of mobile health technology for substance use disorders and proposed a roadmap for future advancements. The Health Promotion Research Center (HPRC) at OU stands at the forefront of this movement, having amassed $65 million in grants and supporting nearly 100 mobile health studies.
Dr. Businelle’s team leads the mHealth Shared Resource within HPRC, which introduced the Insight™ mHealth Platform in 2015. This platform serves as a hub for the development and testing of technology-based interventions. While numerous health apps flood the market, only a handful undergo rigorous scientific evaluation to determine their efficacy. Dr. Businelle sees rigorously tested smartphone apps as pivotal in filling critical gaps in substance abuse treatment.
“According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, only 6% of people with substance use disorders receive any form of treatment,” Dr. Businelle noted. “However, with 90% of all U.S. adults owning smartphones, technology now allows us to create highly tailored interventions delivered at the time that people need them.”
The Insight™ mHealth Platform hosts several ongoing mobile health studies for substance abuse, with participation from research institutions nationwide. Dr. Businelle’s publication suggests innovative approaches for future research in the field. Key recommendations include the re-randomization of clinical trial participants, objective verification of self-reported substance use, and redefining successful outcomes beyond mere abstinence.
Traditional clinical trial models, Dr. Businelle argues, are ill-suited for substance abuse interventions, necessitating a shift towards adaptive interventions enabled by mobile technology. By re-randomizing participants to different treatments based on their response, mobile apps offer a more personalized approach to treatment.
Moreover, advancements in technology enable the objective verification of self-reported substance use, mitigating the issue of underreported usage due to stigma. Dr. Businelle’s team utilizes innovative techniques such as carbon monoxide detection via smartphone-connected devices, coupled with facial recognition software for participant authentication.
Challenging conventional notions of success in substance abuse trials, Dr. Businelle advocates for a nuanced understanding of treatment effectiveness. Rather than focusing solely on end-of-trial outcomes, he suggests continuous monitoring at daily, weekly, and monthly intervals to capture the dynamic nature of substance use behaviors.
While acknowledging the limitations of mobile health technologies, such as the absence of therapeutic relationships and the need for more intensive interventions in some cases, Dr. Businelle remains optimistic about their potential. Mobile health interventions, he asserts, could alleviate stigma associated with in-person treatment and serve as a primary mode of intervention, with traditional counseling reserved for cases where mobile interventions prove insufficient.
As mobile health technology continues to evolve, Dr. Businelle’s research underscores its transformative impact on substance abuse treatment, offering hope for more accessible and effective interventions for individuals in need.
