Sustaining Recovery for People on Opioid Agonist Treatment With Conversational Agents
Boston Medical Center
100 participants
Oct 30, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
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).
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria7
- Diagnosis of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)
- Within 30 days of intake at recruitment site (BMC OBAT)
- Possession of a smartphone that has minimum requirements
- English-speaking and reading
- Willing to release electronic health record (EHR) data
- Able to provide at least two alternate contacts who usually know how to get in touch with them
- Currently prescribed buprenorphine from an outpatient clinic
Exclusion Criteria3
- Incarceration anticipated within 12 months of enrollment
- Inability to comprehend the study protocol, defined as failing three times to answer correctly a set of questions during the consent process
- Inability to use the ECA app (i.e., due to markedly limited visual or auditory acuity or motor function required to interact with the ECA)
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Interventions
The app with the ECA will be provided.
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.
Weekly text messages will be provided reminding participants to use the app on behalf of OBAT clinical staff.
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
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
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NCT06732596