Sustaining Recovery for People on Opioid Agonist Treatment With Conversational Agents

Part of paid clinical trials in Boston, Massachusetts.

Sponsor
Boston Medical Center
Study ID
NCT06732596
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Opioid Use Disorder

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Embodied conversational agent (ECA) — OTHER
    The app with the ECA will be provided.
  • Technical support — OTHER
    Technical support will include assistance downloading and setting up the app on the participant's phone, walking them through a brief demonstration, and answering any questions the participant has about how to use the app.
  • Additional ECA messages — OTHER
    Weekly text messages will be provided reminding participants to use the app on behalf of OBAT clinical staff.
  • Additional incentives — OTHER
    Additional incentives will be provided after logging into the app for 20 days followed by monthly lotteries for those who log in 15 days per month

Study Details

This study aims to improve retention in buprenorphine treatment, a medication used for opioid use disorder, through the use of a smartphone-delivered recovery support intervention. The intervention involves an Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA), a virtual, animated computer agent designed to simulate natural face-to-face conversations. ECAs have been shown to help individuals manage their healthcare in other settings, and this study seeks to evaluate their potential in supporting patients on medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD).

Key Dates

Start date
Oct 30, 2025
Status verified
Oct 2025
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2026
Completion
Dec 31, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
100 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Arms

  • Experimental: ECA, technical support, additional ECA messages, and incentives
    Participants randomized into the intervention arm will be engaged in ECA use, technical support, additional ECA messages reminding the use of the ECA app on behalf of OBAT clinical staff, and monetary incentives.
  • No Intervention: Treatment as usual group
    Participants randomized into this arm will receive treatment as usual

Primary Outcome Measure

Number of participants that stay engaged in buprenorphine treatment [ Time Frame: 12 months ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Office-Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT) Clinic, BMCBostonMassachusetts02118
Karsten Lunze, MD MPH DrPH
[email protected]
617-414-6933
Samantha Blakemore, MPH
[email protected]
617-383-9226

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By research site
Office-Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT) Clinic, BMC· Boston, MA

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