"Moving at the Speed of Trust": Implementing a Digital Tool to Improve Data-driven Response to the Opioid Crisis

Efficient, equitable, and cost-effective responses to the opioid crisis require that communities have real-time, robust data. Traditional data sources are severely limited and better methods are needed to capture data among "hidden" and vulnerable populations and improve data infrastructure. This study pilot tested a digital tool to improve data capture and data-driven decision-making among harm reduction organizations (HROs). We enrolled 11 organizations over 17 weeks to assess feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy. We conducted surveys with N=71 staff and qualitative interviews with n=21 staff of participating sites. Thematic analysis of these interviews was conducted to understand the relative characteristics between sustaining and late-adopting organizations. Results demonstrated feasibility and acceptability of the digital tool in community-based outreach settings. Qualitative data revealed differences between sustaining and late-adopting organizations: sustainability was associated with organization-level priorities for data-driven overdose response, valuing improving overdose data accuracy, and leadership setting usage expectations.