Feasibility of the UCLA Quit Using Drugs Intervention Trial (QUIT)

Background: We report on the feasibility of conducting the Quit Using Drugs Intervention Trial (QUIT), a brief intervention for reducing risky drug use and drug-related harm in low-income, racially diverse patients of five Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Los Angeles.

Methods: Eligible risky drug users, defined by a WHO ASSIST score of 4-26 on a computerized self-administered version, were randomized to the QUIT intervention (n=171). We report on the completion rate, and patient perceived helpfulness/usefulness of the QUIT intervention components in reducing drug use: 1) clinician advice; 2) video of standardized clinician advice; 3) drug-use educational booklet; and 4) two telephone health education (HE) sessions. Data were obtained from clinicians’ post-intervention surveys, 3-month follow-up surveys and educators’ HE session progress notes. 

Results: Of the intervention patients: 1) 100% received the brief clinician advice, 2/3s of which took 3-4 minutes or less; 2) 90% viewed the video; 3) 100% received the drug-use booklet; 4) 77% received the 2-week HE session and 54% received the 6-week HE session. The average HE session was 19 minutes. Patient perception of the QUIT components: 1) 68% of patients found brief clinician advice helpful; 2) 50% video useful; 3) 77% booklet useful; 4) 85% HE session useful.

Conclusion: Findings on the ease and helpfulness of providing the QUIT intervention support QUIT as a feasible model for screening and intervening on risky drug use in FQHCs. Implementing QUIT into routine primary care would be an effective part of integrating behavioral health into comprehensive, patient-centered primary care.