Contingency management for groups

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Contingency management to encourage participation of heroin users in group work: a qualitative study of heroin users’ understanding of the role of contingency management

• IRAS ID

  143482

• Contact name

  Charles Cornford

• Contact email

  01642 354550

• Sponsor organisation

  Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

• Research summary

  Contingency management (CM) – providing rewards for evidence of drug abstinence - is effective in the treatment of drug addiction. Group therapy work is also effective in the treatment of drug addiction, and CM is effective in promoting attendance. Little is understood however about the meanings patients hold about the role of CM.
  The purpose of this study is to determine the meanings patients ascribe to CM as a method of encouraging attendance at group work for drug addiction.
  Patients currently in treatment for drug and alcohol addiction will be offered places for one of three different types of group work. They will be offered money for attendance.
  Semi-structure qualitative interviews will be conducted with 20-30 participants, including those completing and failing to complete the group work. The participants’ views of CM will be explored.
  All interviews will be fully transcribed and analysed according to standard qualitative techniques.

• REC name

  North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  13/NE/0366

• Date of REC Opinion

  21 Mar 2014

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion