An ECG-based cardiac safety initiative is well received by opioid treatment program staff: results from a qualitative assessment.

Registry data on methadone reveal that QTc-prolongation is reported more often among opioid-dependent patients than chronic pain patients. This suggests that opioid treatment programs may be an important venue for implementing arrhythmia risk-reduction strategies. An electrocardiography-based strategy in the opioid treatment program setting demonstrated a reduction in the QTc-interval among patients with marked QTc-prolongation. However, the feasibility of program implementation remains uncertain. Therefore, we performed qualitative interviews among opioid treatment program staff to determine the barriers and benefits of implementation. Overall, the program was well received by staff; however, a need for training and algorithms was identified. No patient was denied access to care.