Wray Tyler B
Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, United States.
JMIR Form Res. 2022 Jun 20;6(6):e37008. doi: 10.2196/37008.
Hundreds of smartphone apps or websites claiming to help those with addictions are available, but few have been tested for efficacy in changing clinically relevant addictions outcomes. Although most of these products are designed for self-facilitation by users struggling with addictions, counselors and other addictions treatment providers will likely play a critical role in facilitating adoption by integrating their use into counseling or recommending them to their patients. Yet, few studies have explored the practices of addictions counselors in using or recommending addictions-focused digital health tools in their work.
The aim of this study was to understand whether addiction counselors are recommending that their patients use addictions-focused apps to help them in their recovery, and the factors that affect their desire to do so.
Licensed addiction counselors practicing in the United States (N=112) were recruited from professional and scientific organizations of alcohol or drug counselors to complete a web-based survey.
In total, 74% (83/112) of counselors had recommended that their patients use a website or smartphone app to assist them in recovery, and those that had done so reported recommending an app with an average of 54% of their patients. The most commonly recommended app or website was SMARTRecovery.org (9%), I am Sober (8%), In the Rooms (7%), Insight Timer (4%), Calm (4%), Sober Tool (4%), Recovery Box (3%), and Sober Grid (3%). The most important reason that counselors recommended the websites or apps was that colleagues or patients told them they found it helpful (55%), followed by their workplaces recommending it (20%) and professional organizations recommending it (10%). Counselors' intentions to recommend a hypothetical app were strongest for apps that had been tested in rigorous, scientific studies that showed they helped users stay sober or reduce their substance use; 94% (105/112) reported that they would "definitely" or "probably" use such an app.
Most addictions counselors surveyed are already recommending that their patients use apps or websites to help them in their recovery, despite the paucity of available products that have evidence supporting their efficacy for addictions outcomes. One way that product developers could increase adoption among addictions treatment providers is to make efficacy testing a priority and to disseminate results through professional organizations and clinics.
有数百款声称可帮助成瘾者的智能手机应用程序或网站，但很少有经过测试以证明其在改变临床相关成瘾结果方面的有效性。尽管这些产品大多是为成瘾者自助设计的，但咨询师和其他成瘾治疗提供者可能会在促进其应用方面发挥关键作用，方法是将其使用纳入咨询过程或将其推荐给患者。然而，很少有研究探讨成瘾咨询师在工作中使用或推荐专注于成瘾的数字健康工具的做法。
本研究的目的是了解成瘾咨询师是否向其患者推荐使用专注于成瘾的应用程序来帮助他们康复，以及影响他们这样做意愿的因素。
从酒精或药物咨询师的专业和科学组织中招募了在美国执业的持牌成瘾咨询师（N = 112），以完成一项基于网络的调查。
总体而言，74%（83/112）的咨询师曾向其患者推荐使用网站或智能手机应用程序来帮助他们康复，那些这样做的咨询师报告称，平均向54%的患者推荐了应用程序。最常被推荐的应用程序或网站是SMARTRecovery.org（9%）、I am Sober（8%）、In the Rooms（7%）、Insight Timer（4%）、Calm（4%）、Sober Tool（4%）、Recovery Box（3%）和Sober Grid（3%）。咨询师推荐这些网站或应用程序的最重要原因是同事或患者告诉他们觉得有帮助（55%），其次是工作场所推荐（20%）和专业组织推荐（10%）。对于在严格的科学研究中经过测试且显示能帮助用户保持清醒或减少物质使用的假设应用程序，咨询师推荐的意愿最为强烈；94%（105/112）报告称他们会“肯定”或“可能”使用这样的应用程序。
尽管缺乏有证据支持其成瘾治疗效果的可用产品，但大多数接受调查的成瘾咨询师已经在向其患者推荐使用应用程序或网站来帮助他们康复。产品开发者提高成瘾治疗提供者采用率的一种方法是将效果测试作为优先事项，并通过专业组织和诊所传播结果。
