Digital Interventions for SUD Recovery (1 CE)

Number of Credits: 1

This course is for:  Clinical Psychologists, Counselors, LMFTs, and Nurses

Course By: Tim Grigsby, PhD

Content By: Nesvåg, S., & McKay, J. R. (2018). Feasibility and effects of digital interventions to support people in recovery from substance use disorders: Systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20(8), e255.

Course Description: Prolonged recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) is challenging and requires consistent support. The use of digital interventions can help clinicians to overcome major challenges to extended treatment. The researchers examine the state of digital interventions to prevent relapse across a variety of technological platforms and a variety of substances. Existing digital interventions show evidence for efficacy, feasibility, and effectiveness. However, inconsistent findings suggest further research is needed to continue refining existing interventions with special attention to ecological factors and a sensitivity to user satisfaction.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the challenges to long-term abstinence among persons with substance use disorder
2. Describe the differences between simple and complex digital interventions to support people in recovery from substance use disorders
3. List the strengths and weaknesses of current digital interventions to support recovery from substance use disorders.

Course Outline:

• Read and understand Feasibility and effects of digital interventions to support people in recovery from substance use disorders: Systematic review
• Review the Course Description and Learning Objectives
• Reflect on the current state of the evidence on digital interventions for recovery in regard to their feasibility and efficacy across different digital platforms and substances
• Work through the post-test questions; keep in mind that answer selections should be derived from the respective article
• Return to the referenced article for any missed questions and/or to better understand the strengths and limitations of using digital interventions to support recovery efforts of people with substance use disorders

* Implicit biases incorporate an association that occurs outside of conscious awareness that may resultantly lead to a negative patient evaluation derived from irrelevant characteristics, i.e., gender and/or race. A systematic review of the literature was conducted. Thirty-five studies identified the existence of implicit bias in healthcare professionals; all correlational studies evidenced a significant positive relationship between implicit bias levels and lower quality of care (FitzGerald & Hurst, 2017). Continued research in health care settings, combined with greater method homogeneity, should be employed to examine the occurrence and prevalence of implicit biases in healthcare settings as a strategic approach for mitigating related disparities (FitzGerald & Hurst, 2017).

Approvals: