Digital Health for the Opioid Crisis: Funding the Future (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
En-Ju Deborah Lin ◽  
Madeleine Schroeder ◽  
Yungui Huang ◽  
Simon Lin
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Gradual Increase ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Federal Funding ◽  
The United States ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Federal Research Funding ◽  
Opioid Crisis ◽  
Federal Research

UNSTRUCTURED The opioid crisis is ravaging economies and communities across the United States. Technology has the potential to end this crisis. Digital health offers new ways to reach, diagnose, and treat individuals with opioid use disorders. Federal research funding tends to reflect the nation’s research priorities and shape the direction of innovation. We reviewed funded projects by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) from 2013 to 2017, a period leading to the substantial increase in federal funding and the launch of the HEAL (Helping End Addiction Long-TermSM) initiative in 2018. We presented our viewpoint of the research landscape of the digital health development for the opioid crisis. Overall, there was a gradual increase in NIDA grant funding for technology in the opioid crisis and the percentage of NIDA technology awards funding new projects has nearly doubled. More specifically, we discuss the types of applications and potential challenges in five emerging technology categories: electronic health, mobile health, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and biosensor. Diversification of funding in these categories offers the promise of more innovation in new technologies to combat the opioid epidemic.

scholarly journals Addressing the Opioid Epidemic: Recommended Solutions from Physicians

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Cataldo ◽  
Sandra Collins ◽  
Richard C Mckinnies ◽  
Jane Nichols ◽  
Thomas A Shaw
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Active Role ◽  
The United States ◽  
Opioid Epidemic ◽  
Opioid Misuse ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Multifaceted Approach ◽  
Improve Treatment ◽  
Opioid Crisis ◽  
A Current

The purpose of this study was to assess physicians’ accounts related to the current opioid epidemic and to identify solutions that they feel would be most successful in addressing opioid misuse and overuse. A survey was administered a group of physicians obtained from a nationwide database. Nearly all physicians surveyed believed there was a current opioid crisis in the United States and that physicians should take an active role in addressing opioid use in patients. Four key themes emerged regarding solutions to the opioid crisis: i) policy change, ii) improve treatment, iii) education, and iv) alternative treatment. The diversity of responses highlighted the need for a multifaceted approach to address opioid misuse and abuse.

scholarly journals Who’s writing open access (OA) articles? Characteristics of OA authors at Ph.D.-granting institutions in the United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 1429-1450
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Olejniczak ◽  
Molly J. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
The United States ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Career Stage ◽  
Access To Resources ◽  
Federal Research Funding ◽  
Federal Research ◽  
Prestigious Institution ◽  
Primary Focus ◽  
Article Processing Charges

The open access (OA) publication movement aims to present research literature to the public at no cost and with no restrictions. While the democratization of access to scholarly literature is a primary focus of the movement, it remains unclear whether OA has uniformly democratized the corpus of freely available research, or whether authors who choose to publish in OA venues represent a particular subset of scholars—those with access to resources enabling them to afford article processing charges (APCs). We investigated the number of OA articles with article processing charges (APC OA) authored by 182,320 scholars with known demographic and institutional characteristics at American research universities across 11 broad fields of study. The results show, in general, that the likelihood for a scholar to author an APC OA article increases with male gender, employment at a prestigious institution (AAU member universities), association with a STEM discipline, greater federal research funding, and more advanced career stage (i.e., higher professorial rank). Participation in APC OA publishing appears to be skewed toward scholars with greater access to resources and job security.

scholarly journals Addressing the Opioid Crisis through an Interdisciplinary Task Force in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Pharmacy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 116
Author(s):  
Neil J MacKinnon ◽  
Ellena Privitera
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Task Force ◽  
The United States ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Access To Treatment ◽  
Opioid Crisis ◽  
Comprehensive Health ◽  
Recovery Resources ◽  
State And Local

Opioid use has been a topic of concern in recent years in the United States, causing thousands of deaths each year. Ohio is one of the states hit hardest by the epidemic, and its state and local governments have responded with comprehensive health policies. Cincinnati, located in the southwest region of Ohio, is one of the epicenters of the state’s opioid crisis. Responding to the needs of their community, the University of Cincinnati (UC) and its affiliate health system, UC Health, have brought together leaders in research, clinical practice, and education to form the UC/UC Health Opioid Task Force. By encouraging interdisciplinary partnerships, the Task Force is pioneering new ways to understand, prevent, and treat opioid use disorder, while preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. Additionally, collaboration across departments in UC Health has improved access to treatment and recovery resources for hundreds of patients. Leading educational events, supporting local agencies, and participating in government initiatives have further solidified UC and UC Health’s role as a stakeholder in this crisis, showcasing how academic health centers are critical to promoting public health.

Implications of the Opioid Crisis for the American Disability Community

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-274
Author(s):  
Mykal J. Leslie ◽  
Kathleen Sheppard-Jones ◽  
Malachy L. Bishop
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Rehabilitation Counseling ◽  
The United States ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Research Education ◽  
Opioid Crisis ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe profession of rehabilitation counseling has long been responsive to emerging disabilities. To date, however, the profession's attention and response to the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States has been incommensurate with the scope and detriment of opioids and opioid use disorder (OUD) on Americans with disabilities. The opioid crisis, including the overuse, abuse, and overdose rates associated with prescription and illegal opioids, affects people of all ages and backgrounds. However, people with disabilities are at increased risk for developing OUDs, and they experience greater barriers to OUD treatment than people without disabilities.MethodThis article describes the origins and development of this crisis, the relationship between disability and increased risk for OUD, and the barriers to treatment that exist. We then evaluate the role of rehabilitation counseling, including the need for further action in advocacy, research, education, and policy.Results and ConclusionsThroughout this article, we encourage a more urgent and concerted response than seems to be the case presently.

scholarly journals The Invisible Epidemic: A Spotlight on the Opioid Crisis Among Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 210-210
Author(s):  
Jessica Hsieh ◽  
Lynn McDonald ◽  
Adriana Shnall ◽  
Raza Mirza ◽  
Samir Sinha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Drug Interactions ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Stakeholder Consultation ◽  
Opioid Crisis ◽  
The Invisible

Abstract Canada is facing an opioid crisis, with more than 3,900 related deaths occurring in 2017. Almost 30% of those deaths were among seniors; older adults also have the highest rates of opioid hospitalization and poisoning. Despite these statistics, little is known about the specifics. A comprehensive scoping review following Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) framework was conducted to establish the magnitude of the problem, describe treatment approaches alongside prevention, and identify implications for practice, policy and research. Eight major electronic databases in medicine and the social sciences were searched alongside the grey literature, and a stakeholder consultation convened to validate results. A total of 6,814 articles, reports and thesis were identified. Forty-five sources met inclusion criteria, the majority stemming from the United States. Most were literature reviews, cohort and cross-sectional studies, with almost half also taking a gendered approach. Four predominant themes emerged from the thematic content analysis: 1) Medical Applications of Opioids; 2) Problematic Opioid Use; 3) Treatment and Prevention Strategies; and 4) Recommendations. Data highlighted ‘the invisible epidemic’, with treatment strategies to be specifically tailored to this population in light of metabolic differences and drug interactions as part of aging. Seniors are part of the current epidemic, with tailored approaches needed to ensure adequate, evidence-based counteraction – including seniors’ voices alongside further research in this regard. Education and training for prescribers needs to be enhanced alongside cross-jurisdictional drug monitoring programs to avoid drug interactions and misuse/fraud.

scholarly journals A Patient-Centered Framework for Measuring the Economic Value of the Clinical Benefits of Digital Health Apps: Theoretical Modeling

10.2196/18812 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. e18812
Author(s):  
Adam Powell ◽  
John Torous
Keyword(s):  
Digital Health ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
The United States ◽  
Quality Adjusted Life Year ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Clinical Benefits ◽  
Country Specific

Background As digital health tools such as smartphone apps evolve and enter clinical use, questions regarding their value must be addressed. Although there are scarce generalizable data on the value of health apps given their nascency and diverse use cases, it is possible to estimate the economic value of the clinical improvement they bring to patients using a quality-adjusted life-year (QALY)-based approach and generalized values from existing literature. Objective This paper aims to provide a patient-centered framework for assessing the economic value of the clinical benefits delivered by digital health apps. Methods We proposed a model based upon 5 levers: country-specific monetary value of a QALY, QALYs lost due to the condition, engagement rate of app users, average effect size of the app’s health impact, and duration of the app’s impact before remission. Results Using 2 digital health apps from the United States and United Kingdom as examples, we explored how this model could generate country-specific estimates of the economic value of the clinical benefits of health apps. Conclusions This new framework can help drive research priorities for digital health by elucidating the factors that influence the economic value.

Ohmic Heating and Moderate Electric Field Processing

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 419-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Sastry
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Ohmic Heating ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Federal Research Funding ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Federal Research ◽  
Significant Research ◽  
Moderate Electric Field

Ohmic heating has been revived in the 1980s and after a brief pause in the 1990s, has reemerged in a number of food processing applications. An offshoot, Moderate Electric Field (MEF) processing has emerged from the recognition that even relatively mild electric fields themselves have significant effects on food and other biological materials. A number of significant research areas have been identified in this connection. In addition, a discussion is provided on priorities for federal research funding, including the need for basic research balanced with industry relevance, availability of pilot facilities for development of new technologies, and potentially, a mechanism for helping inventions survive through the initial ``Valley of Death'' phase.

A scoping review of acupuncture insurance coverage in the United States

2020 ◽  
pp. 096452842096421
Author(s):  
Roselle Bleck ◽  
Emma Marquez ◽  
Melanie A Gold ◽  
Carolyn L Westhoff
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
The United States ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
The Impact

Background: Increasing access to non-pharmacologic pain management modalities, including acupuncture, has the potential to reduce opioid overuse. A lack of insurance coverage for acupuncture could present a barrier for both patients and providers. The objective of this scoping review was to assess the existing literature on acupuncture insurance coverage in the United States and to identify knowledge gaps and research priorities. Methods: We utilized the Arksey and O’Malley framework to guide our scoping review methodology. We followed a pre-determined study protocol for the level-one abstract and level-two full text screenings. We synthesized information into subject-area domains and identified knowledge gaps. Results: We found a lack of published data on acupuncture coverage in 44 states, especially in the Midwest and the South. Where data were available, a large proportion of acupuncture users did not have insurance coverage. Consumer demand, state mandates, and efforts to reduce opioid use were motivations to cover acupuncture. Licensed acupuncturists were less likely to be reimbursed and were reimbursed at lower rates compared to physicians. Reported barriers encountered when implementing coverage included a lack of providers, challenges determining when to offer non-pharmacologic treatments, and a lack of evidence for clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Conclusion: We found a lack of recent publications and data comparing regional coverage in the United States. A key challenge is that commercial insurance plan data are not in the public domain. Further research should assess insurance coverage implementation for acupuncture and measure the impact of policy changes on acupuncture utilization and rates of opioid overuse.

Measurement in an on-demand virtual mental health system: a review and viewpoint (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Kunkle ◽  
John A Naslund ◽  
Justin Hunt ◽  
Dana Udall ◽  
Erica Hayes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Data Science ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
On Demand ◽  
Measurement Based Care ◽  
Multidisciplinary Perspective ◽  
Development And Management

UNSTRUCTURED Mental health is a growing public health priority in the United States and globally. Measurement-based care (MBC) has been shown to improve outcomes in clinical care, yet there are significant challenges to implementation. New technologies offer opportunities to address these obstacles and to measure new and existing constructs at a scale that was previously not possible. This paper aims to summarize existing literature on MBC, focusing on mental health and digital health. Specifically, we describe a case example called Ginger, a novel on-demand virtual system for delivering mental health services, and demonstrate how this platform aligns with core principles of MBC in mental health based on existing frameworks and findings from the literature. Additionally, we integrate feedback from multidisciplinary stakeholders (clinical practitioners, data science, product development and management, and research) to develop a perspective on key tenets of measurement in this system. To navigate the challenges of translating traditional measurement tools into new technologies in addition to developing new measurements, this multidisciplinary perspective is required. Ultimately, this will enhance our understanding of mental health and ability to develop interventions to improve outcomes.

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