CTN-0037-A-1: Site Influences on Treatment Effects – Exercise as a Treatment for Substance Use Disorders

November 29, 2021 /

Dennis McCarty, PhD
Lead Investigator
Oregon Health & Science University

Site variations in study outcomes are apparent in clinical trials conducted within the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN).  Systematic and standardized collection of organizational and workforce variables may help elucidate site variations and increase the CTN’s understanding of patient outcomes in protocols.  The Stimulant Reduction Intervention using Dosed Exercise study (CTN-0037) will be used to assess the influence of organizational and workforce characteristics on trial operations (e.g., rates of participant recruitment and follow-up) and patient outcomes (e.g., reductions in drug use).  This study will build on the analysis of organizational and workforce data in the Baseline Protocol (CTN-0008) and the collection of pre-implementation site data for STAGE-12 (CTN-0031-A-3).  The study’s specific aim is the assessment of associations between site organizational and practitioner variables and site differences in clinical trial outcomes.

Primary Findings

Site respondents generally believed that clients would adhere to the expected amount and intensity of exercise while in treatment, but site variation was apparent. Study staff at all sites tended to support the implementation of exercise into their treatment services. There was minimal variation in goal commitment across the study sites.

    Node Involvement

    Lead Node(s):

  • Western States Node

    • All Participating Nodes:

  • Western States Node