Inpatient link to peer recovery coaching: Results from a pilot randomized control trial.

Abstract

Few individuals hospitalized with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) complications participate in recovery support services after discharge. Peer recovery coaching represents one potential new method for promoting recovery. A six-month prospective randomized controlled trial compared outcomes between the standard of care and a physician-initiated recovery coaching intervention. The primary outcome measure was engagement in recovery support services, and the secondary outcome measures were substance use frequency and self-reported physical and mental health using the SF-12 survey. Participants (N = 98) were eligible if they were identified by a healthcare provider as having a SUD and were hospitalized due to SUD complications. Engagement rate over the six-month post-discharge time period was higher for participants in the recovery coaching intervention (84 %, 95 % CI: 78%-91%) compared to the standard of care control condition (34 %, 95 % CI: 25 %-44 %), log OR = 28.59, p < .001. No overall group differences in substance use frequency (p = .80), self-reported physical (p = .69) or mental (p = .89) health were observed. An inpatient linkage to recovery coaching services improves engagement rates and can feasibly be implemented in a single-center inpatient service. This intervention is promising for promoting both short-term and long-term engagement in recovery support services.