Putting Contingency Management Research into Practice: A Canadian Randomized Effectiveness Trial of Contingency Management for Treatment Attendance

Date
2024-07-17
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Abstract

Introduction: Contingency management (CM) is an effective evidence-based treatment (EBT) used as an adjunct to usual care for individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). However, its use in clinical practice is limited, particularly in Canada. This study implemented and evaluated the effectiveness of CM for SUDs in two outpatient addiction clinics in Alberta. Methods: We recruited and randomized 93 participants for a three-month, two-armed, parallel-group, unblinded intervention which compared attendance-based CM (n=47) to a treatment-as-usual (TAU) control group (n=46). In total, five participants were later excluded due to ineligibility. Therefore, in total, 88 participants were analyzed: 43 participants in CM, 45 in TAU. Participants in the CM group were incentivized using a hybrid prize-and voucher method. Specifically, attendance at treatment was rewarded with draws from a virtual prize bowl which accrued incrementally based on consecutive attendance. Our outcomes related to differences in treatment retention, attendance, substance use, and quality of life between CM and TAU. Results: Participants in CM were less likely to drop out of treatment, were retained in treatment for longer durations, attended more treatment sessions, and attended treatment more consistently compared to participants in TAU. No other differences between groups were observed for substance use outcomes or quality of life. Conclusion: Our results support the adaptability of CM in the Canadian context to improve treatment retention and attendance. The remote capabilities of CM reduce the barriers for accessing this EBT, allowing for greater reach of this intervention. The results highlight how CM can be tailored to be more economical through its focus on attendance, a focus consistent with the growing movement towards a harm-reduction approach to addiction recovery in Canada.

Description
Keywords
contingency management, substance use disorder treatment, effectiveness trial
Citation
Cowie, M. (2024). Putting contingency management research into practice: a Canadian randomized effectiveness trial of contingency management for treatment attendance (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.