RT Journal Article
T1 Impact of COVID-19 on Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Examining the Influence of In-Person and Telehealth Intervention on Outcomes Using Real-World Data
A1 Mancheño Velasco, Cinta
A1 Narváez Camargo, Marta
A1 Dacosta Sánchez, Daniel
A1 Rosa Cáceres, Ana María
A1 Lozano Rojas, Óscar Martín
K1 Salud pública
AB Background: The COVID-19 health crisis challenged healthcare systems aroundthe world, leading to restrictions in access to face-to-face healthcare services, and forcingrapid adaptation to telehealth services. At present, there is a gap in the functioning of thisadaptation in drug-dependence centres. The present study analyses, over four years, careindicators on the care modality (face-to-face vs. hybrid), the patient profile and the impacton retention in treatment. Methods: Retrospective observational study with data collectedbetween 14 March 2019 and 21 June 2023. The electronic health records of 44,930 patientswere analysed according to different moments and selected based on the different healthmeasures imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients were classified according towhether they received an in-person or hybrid intervention. Bivariate statistics and logisticregression analysis were applied. Results: The trend over time shows an increase inthe number of patients seen in addiction centres. However, no notable changes withinthe in-person care modality and a modest increase in telehealth services are observed.Telehealth is primarily used among patients with opiate addiction, as well as with thosewith comorbid mental disorders. Logistic regression analysis shows that patients in ahybrid modality are more likely to remain in treatment. Conclusions: Results show thathybrid care is associated with higher patient retention rates. Despite this, different profilesare mostly treated with in-person interventions rather than hybrid modalities. Futurestudies should explore how to generalise personalised hybrid care among SUD patientsconsidering factors such as patients’ educational level, employment status or accessibilityto mental health services.
PB MDPI
SN 2227-9032 (electrónico)
YR 2025
FD 2025-01
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10272/24728
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10272/24728
LA eng
NO Mancheño-Velasco, C., Narváez-Camargo, M., Dacosta-Sánchez, D., de la Rosa-Cáceres, A., & Lozano, Ó. M. (2025). Impact of COVID-19 on Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Examining the Influence of In-Person and Telehealth Intervention on Outcomes Using Real-World Data. In Healthcare (Vol. 13, Issue 1, p. 84). MDPI AG. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13010084
NO This work was supported by the grant “Evolución de la actividad asistencial y los resultadosdel tratamiento de pacientes con trastorno por consume de sustancias en Andalucía durante lasdiferentes fases de la pandemia COVID-19”, project EXP 2022/08882 by Delegación para el Gobiernodel Plan Nacional sobre Drogas (Spain) from the European Union’s Recovery, Transformation andResilicience Mechanism.
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 30 may 2026