Motivational tools to improve probationer treatment outcomes

Abstract

Background Motivational interviewing (MI) is a promising practice to increase motivation, treatment retention, and reducing recidivism among offender populations. Computer-delivered interventions have grown in popularity as a way to change behaviors associated with drug and alcohol use. Methods/Design Motivational Assistance Program to Initiate Treatment (MAPIT) is a three arm, multisite, randomized controlled trial, which examines the impact of Motivational Interviewing (MI), a Motivational Computer Program (MC), and Supervision as Usual (SAU) on addiction treatment initiation, engagement, and retention. Secondary outcomes include drug/alcohol use, probation progress, recidivism (i.e., criminal behavior) and HIV/AIDS testing and treatment among probationers. Participant characteristics are measured at baseline, 2, and 6 months after assignment. The entire study will include 600 offenders, with each site recruiting 300 offenders (Baltimore City, Maryland and Dallas, Texas). All participants will go through standard intake procedures for probation and participate in probation requirements as usual. After standard intake, participants will be recruited and screened for eligibility. Discussion The results of this clinical trial will fill a gap in knowledge about ways to motivate probationers to participate in addiction treatment and HIV care. This randomized clinical trial is innovative in the way it examines the use of in-person vs. technological approaches to improve probationer success. Trial Registration NCT01891656

A Pilot Study of a Brief Motivational Intervention for Incarcerated Drinkers

“…Research on motivational interventions for CJS-involved individuals is growing and there already are promising findings of increased treatment retention for adults in outpatient treatment (Lincourt, Kuettell, & Bombardier, 2002) and substance use outcomes among adolescents supervised by the juvenile justice system (Stein et al, 2011). Others also are examining the benefits of in-person and computer delivered motivational interviewing strategies with probationers (Taxman, Walters, Sloas, Lergch, & Rodriguez (2015). Utilizing brief interventions that target motivation could be helpful in improving treatment, substance use, and criminal recidivism outcomes for incarcerated individuals with AUDs being released from jail.…”

Effectiveness of a computerized motivational intervention on treatment initiation and substance use: Results from a randomized trial

“…A strength of choosing these two diverse sites was the ability to generalize these findings to other probation systems (see Taxman, et al, 2015 for a description of site differences). To test the generalizability of these findings, we ran the models with site included as a covariate (not reported) and found that the effects of the interventions did not change.…”

“…This study has a few limitations discussed elsewhere (e.g., inability to verify self-reported treatment initiation) (Taxman, et al, 2015). One additional limitation to this study is the challenge of determining the mechanism within each study arm that most impacted the outcomes.…”

“…The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the human subjects institutional review boards at George Mason University and University of North Texas Health Science Center. More detail on the study design and procedures are reported elsewhere (Taxman, Walters, Sloas, Lerch, & Rodriguez, 2015). …”

People’s reasons for wanting to complete probation: Use and predictive validity in an e-health intervention

“…Participants completed a baseline assessment, and follow-up interviews at two and six months. Full trial details can be found elsewhere (Taxman, Walters, Sloas, Lerch, & Rodriguez, 2015). …”