# Understanding Factors that Limit Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in the Hospital to Inform Innovative Approaches to Expand Hospital-Based Treatment

> **NIH NIH K08** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2020 · $189,043

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT With the career goal of becoming an independent health services researcher, Dr.
Susan Calcaterra describes a mentored research project and a rigorous career development plan which will
prepare her to become a leader in the integration of opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment in the hospital setting
with linkage to OUD care post discharge. Nearly 200 people died every day from an overdose in 2017 in the
United States (US). In 2012, there were 527,000 hospitalizations due to opioid use which cost more than $15
billion in medical care. For patients with OUD, there are proven benefits to initiating buprenorphine in the
hospital with treatment referrals and prescribing naloxone at discharge. Unfortunately, OUDs are often not
addressed in the hospital resulting in a missed opportunity to provide patients evidence-based treatment.
There are 50,000 hospital-based physicians (hospitalists) caring for hospitalized patients in the US. This vast
workforce offers a potential solution to initiate buprenorphine in the hospital, provide naloxone at discharge,
and ensure patients are referred to ongoing OUD treatment. There is a critical need to determine why
buprenorphine and naloxone are not routinely prescribed to hospitalized patients with OUD and to sustainably
integrate evidence-based OUD treatment in the hospital using the existing workforce. Without this knowledge,
many hospitalized patients will fail to receive lifesaving medication. The proposed research centers on the
hypothesis that hospitalist’s knowledge and beliefs impact OUD treatment and the hospital’s current structures
and processes do not support OUD treatment. Study Aims include: 1) a qualitative investigation into key
barriers to the integration of evidence-based OUD care into hospital practice in three academic hospitals with
hospitalists, psychiatrists, pharmacists, social workers and nurses; 2) the development of a multicomponent
intervention that adapts evidence-based OUD treatment to the hospital setting by addressing reported barriers
in Aim 1 and by systematically meeting the needs of hospitalists, nurses, pharmacists and social workers
within their workflow; and 3) pilot test a multicomponent intervention to improve OUD treatment in one hospital
over 12 months. Use the RE-AIM framework to measure changes in buprenorphine and naloxone prescribing
(Reach) and changes in the number of providers licensed to prescribe buprenorphine (Adoption) pre/post
intervention implementation. Interview hospital providers to identify ongoing Implementation barriers and to
learn about adaptations made to the intervention to improve its efficiency and ease of use. To accomplish
these aims, Dr. Calcaterra will pursue training in 1) qualitative research methods to inform the intervention
development, 2) intervention development to modify healthcare provider behaviors, and 3) dissemination and
implementation science for future intervention dissemination. Upon completion of these activities, a...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9871441
- **Project number:** 1K08DA049905-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** Susan L Calcaterra
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $189,043
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-04-01 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9871441

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9871441, Understanding Factors that Limit Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in the Hospital to Inform Innovative Approaches to Expand Hospital-Based Treatment (1K08DA049905-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9871441. Licensed CC0.

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