Telephone delivered Incentives for Encouraging adherence (TIES) Phase2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Telephone delivered Incentives for Encouraging adherence to Supervised methadone consumption: development and feasibility study for a RCT of clinical and cost effectiveness (TIES) Phase 2
IRAS ID
228652
Contact name
Nicola Metrebian
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
KCL
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, days
Research summary
Most people in treatment for their addiction to heroin are prescribed methadone. However, individuals often fail to attend the pharmacy to take their methadone. Each missed dose is of concern as the patient will start to experience opiate withdrawal and cravings and will be more likely to use heroin. There is an urgent need to develop effective interventions for medication adherence. Research suggests that incentive-based medication adherence interventions may be very effective. This study aims to develop a telephone system for delivering text message incentives (praise and modest financial rewards)and reminders to encourage adherence to supervised consumption of methadone at community pharmacies. This study is the second phase in an overall project (split into 3 Phases) to develop and test the feasibility of using telephone delivered incentives. Phase 1, was a national postal survey of community pharmacists to determine current practice of dispensing and supervising methadone. This study (Phase 2) will involve developing a telephone delivered intervention (TDI) system to provide positive reinforcement through praise and modest financial incentives to encourage individuals receiving opiate substitution medications (Methadone) to regularly take their methadone under supervision at their pharmacy. In addition, a linked system for monitoring and reporting medication non-compliance to the patients’ prescriber will be further developed. This will inform a future study (Phase 3) to assess the feasibility of conducting a future RCT of the telephone system.
REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0182
Date of REC Opinion
14 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion