TY - JOUR
T1 - Automation in an addiction treatment research clinic
T2 - Computerised contingency management, ecological momentary assessment and a protocol workflow system
AU - Vahabzadeh, Massoud
AU - Lin, Jia Ling
AU - Mezghanni, Mustapha
AU - Epstein, David H.
AU - Preston, Kenzie L.
PY - 2009/1
Y1 - 2009/1
N2 - Introduction and Aims: A challenge in treatment research is the necessity of adhering to protocol and regulatory strictures while maintaining flexibility to meet patients' treatment needs and to accommodate variations among protocols. Another challenge is the acquisition of large amounts of data in an occasionally hectic environment, along with the provision of seamless methods for exporting, mining and querying the data. Design and Methods: We have automated several major functions of our outpatient treatment research clinic for studies in drug abuse and dependence. Here we describe three such specialised applications: the Automated Contingency Management (ACM) system for the delivery of behavioural interventions, the transactional electronic diary (TED) system for the management of behavioural assessments and the ProtocolWorkflow System (PWS) for computerised workflow automation and guidance of each participant's daily clinic activities. These modules are integrated into our larger information system to enable data sharing in real time among authorised staff. Results: ACM and theTED have each permitted us to conduct research that was not previously possible. In addition, the time to data analysis at the end of each study is substantially shorter.With the implementation of the PWS, we have been able to manage a research clinic with an 80 patient capacity, having an annual average of 18 000 patient visits and 7300 urine collections with a research staff of five. Finally, automated data management has considerably enhanced our ability to monitor and summarise participant safety data for research oversight. Discussion and Conclusions: When developed in consultation with end users, automation in treatment research clinics can enable more efficient operations, better communication among staff and expansions in research methods.
AB - Introduction and Aims: A challenge in treatment research is the necessity of adhering to protocol and regulatory strictures while maintaining flexibility to meet patients' treatment needs and to accommodate variations among protocols. Another challenge is the acquisition of large amounts of data in an occasionally hectic environment, along with the provision of seamless methods for exporting, mining and querying the data. Design and Methods: We have automated several major functions of our outpatient treatment research clinic for studies in drug abuse and dependence. Here we describe three such specialised applications: the Automated Contingency Management (ACM) system for the delivery of behavioural interventions, the transactional electronic diary (TED) system for the management of behavioural assessments and the ProtocolWorkflow System (PWS) for computerised workflow automation and guidance of each participant's daily clinic activities. These modules are integrated into our larger information system to enable data sharing in real time among authorised staff. Results: ACM and theTED have each permitted us to conduct research that was not previously possible. In addition, the time to data analysis at the end of each study is substantially shorter.With the implementation of the PWS, we have been able to manage a research clinic with an 80 patient capacity, having an annual average of 18 000 patient visits and 7300 urine collections with a research staff of five. Finally, automated data management has considerably enhanced our ability to monitor and summarise participant safety data for research oversight. Discussion and Conclusions: When developed in consultation with end users, automation in treatment research clinics can enable more efficient operations, better communication among staff and expansions in research methods.
KW - Clinical decision support system
KW - Contingency management
KW - Ecological momentary assessment
KW - Protocol workflow
KW - Substance abuse treatment
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2008.00007.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2008.00007.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 19320669
AN - SCOPUS:67650633050
SN - 0959-5236
VL - 28
SP - 3
EP - 11
JO - Drug and Alcohol Review
JF - Drug and Alcohol Review
IS - 1
ER -