emPath platform pilot to link and keep adults with opioid use disorder in care in Durham
Official title: Pilot Testing of the emPath Intervention to Improve MOUD Linkage and Retention in Durham, NC
Run by Duke University · NCT07810322 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This pilot tests a mobile app and telemedicine approach to help adults with opioid use disorder start and stay in MOUD through community outreach in Durham, NC.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Duke University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Durham, North Carolina) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 29, 2026 |
| Main results expected | March 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | March 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | September 9, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07810322 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults 18 and older with moderate to high-risk opioid use who are not currently on MOUD and can communicate in English, plus outreach staff with at least 1 month on the job.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients not interested in virtual visits or not reachable through outreach sessions may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a feasibility and implementation pilot of the emPath digital platform designed to facilitate virtual MOUD delivery through low-barrier outreach. The study enrolls up to 50 adults with opioid use disorder who are not currently on MOUD and uses outreach staff to support access via mobile and fixed-site sessions with a secure telemedicine portal and in-app messaging. The primary outcome is retention in care, defined as at least one virtual visit around a 6-month time frame. Secondary aims include understanding implementation barriers and facilitators through interviews with participants and outreach staff, guided by established frameworks. Data will describe baseline characteristics and program uptake in a real-world outreach context at Project MAPS in Durham.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could improve access to MOUD and help people stay engaged in treatment through convenient, outreach-based telemedicine.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts using digital health and telemedicine for MOUD show potential to improve access and retention, but this specific outreach-based emPath pilot is novel in design.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria for Outreach program PWOUD (n=50): * Age 18 or older * Screen positive for moderate to high risk opioid use by WHO-ASSIST * Not currently prescribed any form of MOUD * Able to speak and understand English * Able and willing to provide informed consent Inclusion Criteria for Outreach Staff (n=10): * Age 18 or older * Employed by the preceding 1 month or longer at time of enrollment * Able and willing to provide informed consent
Where it's running
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Project MAPS (Mobile Addiction Treatment and Primary Care Services)
Durham, North Carolina, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jacqueline Hodges, MD MPH — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Jacqueline Hodges, MD MPH
- Email: jacqueline.hodges@duke.edu
- Phone: 919 681 1309
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.