Users' Acceptability and Perceived Efficacy of mHealth for Opioid Use Disorder: Scoping Review

Abstract

Background: The opioid crisis continues to pose significant challenges to global public health, necessitating the development of novel interventions to support individuals in managing their substance use and preventing overdose-related deaths. Mobile health (mHealth), as a promising platform for addressing opioid use disorder, requires a comprehensive understanding of user perspectives to minimize barriers to care and optimize the benefits of mHealth interventions.

Objective: This study aims to synthesize qualitative insights into opioid users' acceptability and perceived efficacy of mHealth and wearable technologies for opioid use disorder.

Methods: A scoping review of PubMed (MEDLINE) and Google Scholar databases was conducted to identify research on opioid user perspectives concerning mHealth-assisted interventions, including wearable sensors, SMS text messaging, and app-based technology.

Results: Overall, users demonstrate a high willingness to engage with mHealth interventions to prevent overdose-related deaths and manage opioid use. Users perceive mHealth as an opportunity to access care and desire the involvement of trusted health care professionals in these technologies. User comfort with wearing opioid sensors emerged as a significant factor. Personally tailored content, social support, and encouragement are preferred by users. Privacy concerns and limited access to technology pose barriers to care.

Conclusions: To maximize benefits and minimize risks for users, it is crucial to implement robust privacy measures, provide comprehensive user training, integrate behavior change techniques, offer professional and peer support, deliver tailored messages, incorporate behavior change theories, assess readiness for change, design stigma-reducing apps, use visual elements, and conduct user-focused research for effective opioid management in mHealth interventions. mHealth demonstrates considerable potential as a tool for addressing opioid use disorder and preventing overdose-related deaths, given the high acceptability and perceived benefits reported by users.

Keywords: SMS; acceptability; addict; addiction; addictions; app; app-based; application; applications; apps; barrier; barriers; challenge; challenges; mHealth; messaging; mobile health; monitoring; opioid; opioids; overdose; overdosing; pharmacology; review methodology; review methods; scoping; sensor; sensors; substance abuse; substance use; text message; wearable; wearable technology; wearables.