Improving electronic prompts to help emergency clinicians start buprenorphine for opioid use disorder

Adaptive Decision Support for Addiction Treatment (ADAPT) Serial Randomized Testing for Usability

NA · Yale University · NCT07549126

This study will test whether placing the nursing COWS prompt as required versus optional in the emergency department helps clinicians use the EMBED decision tool and start buprenorphine for adults with moderate to severe opioid use disorder.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment300 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorYale University (other)
Locations3 sites (Guilford, Connecticut and 2 other locations)
Trial IDNCT07549126 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Using a Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) framework, investigators are conducting rapid, serial A-B randomized tests in the optimization phase to refine the EMBED clinical decision support (CDS) interface and workflow. In round 1, ED encounters will be randomized to show the nurse COWS prompt as either required or optional and usability outcomes will be measured to identify errors, workflow disruption, and abandonment. The more successful condition in each round will advance to be compared against a new test condition across up to five rounds of iterative refinement. The final evaluation phase will be a randomized trial comparing the optimized multicomponent CDS package to the original EMBED tool for ED initiation of buprenorphine.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (18+) presenting to participating emergency departments with moderate to severe opioid use disorder who are not currently receiving medication for opioid use disorder and are not pregnant are the intended participants.

Not a fit: People under 18, those who are pregnant, those already receiving medication for opioid use disorder, or patients seen outside the participating Yale New Haven Health EDs are unlikely to benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the optimized prompts and workflow could increase the number of eligible patients started on buprenorphine in the ED, improving access to treatment and reducing overdose risk.

How similar studies have performed: This work builds on the prior EMBED effort (see NCT03658642) that aimed to increase ED initiation of buprenorphine, and the current project focuses on novel, iterative usability testing to refine that CDS.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Emergency department patient
* 18 years of age or older
* Moderate to severe opioid use disorder

Exclusion Criteria:

* Under 18 years of age
* Pregnant
* Currently receiving medication for opioid use disorder

Where this trial is running

Guilford, Connecticut and 2 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Opioid Use Disorder, Clinical Decision Support

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.