Research Questions

Further research should assess how buprenorphine can be offered in new service contexts to improve patient access, and how alternative approaches to buprenorphine dosing and delivery methods could improve patient-centeredness and engagement. 

Future research questions regarding buprenorphine may include:

  1. Improving the adoption of buprenorphine administration and prescribing among known clinical service contexts, such as hospitals and doctors’ offices, and evaluating which implementation strategies are most effective at supporting clinicians in prescribing buprenorphine.
  2. Extending buprenorphine administration and prescribing to new service contexts, such as syringe service programs and prisons or jails, and evaluating which implementation strategies are most effective at supporting providers in administering or prescribing buprenorphine in these contexts.
  3. Exploring various options for buprenorphine dosing and delivery options, including higher dose or flexible dose buprenorphine, alternative induction regimens such as “home induction,” and longer-acting buprenorphine formulations.
  4. Exploring patient preferences for either methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone, and evaluating the comparative effectiveness of these medications across various patient and provider characteristics