The evaluation of the role of technology in the pathways to comorbidity care implementation project to improve management of comorbid substance use and mental disorders

In substance use treatment settings, comorbid mental health problems can occur in up to 70% of people. An integrated approach for managing comorbidity, implementing evidence-based intervention in drug and alcohol settings, remains problematic. Technology can help in adopting evidence-based practice to implement effective treatment healthcare pathways. This study sought to examine aspects of tailored portal utilization (barriers and facilitators) by participants taking part in a program aimed at improving the implementation of evidence-based practice for comorbidity management Pathways to Comorbidity Care (PCC). Method A self-report questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were designed to measure clinician satisfaction with the PCC portal and e-resources throughout a 9-month intervention. An adapted version of the “Non-adoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread and, Sustainability” (NASSS) framework facilitated discussion of the findings. Results Twenty participants from drug and alcohol services responded to all measures. Facilitators included: (i). clinician acceptance of the portal; (ii). guidance from the clinical supervisor or champion to encourage e-resource use. Barriers included: (i). complexity of the illness (condition); (ii). participants’ preference (adopter system) for face-to-face resources and training modes; and, (iii). lack of face-to-face training on how to use the portal (technology and organization). Conclusion Based on the NASSS framework, we identified several barriers and facilitators of the use of the portal including the complexity of illness, lack of face-to-face training, and clinician preference for training mediums. Recommendations include ongoing organizational support, in-house clinical supervision, and consultation with clinical providers to assist in the development of tailored e-health resources and open training opportunities on how to operate and effectively utilize these resources.