| Summary: | Contingency management (CM) is a behavioural intervention based on the scientific principles of operant conditioning, with clients receiving monetary incentives in the form of vouchers for non-drug related behaviour. Despite strong scientific rationale, CM has not been integrated as a modality in today’s mainstream psycho-social substance use disorder (SUD) treatments, compared to other known treatment approaches. Studies have highlighted treatment providers' main obstacles to increased uptake of CM, while also reporting positive opinions about its use. Less is known about the connection between counsellors’ characteristics and views on CM, although people with more experience and education seem to favour CM more and people working in 12-step recovery models less. The aim of this preliminary study was to determine the nature and prevalence of specific beliefs that Icelandic treatment providers hold regarding CM-interventions, when hypothetically applied to SUD-treatments as add-ons. The authors used a mixed methods design by a) conducting a survey using Kirby’s (2006) 42-item Provider Survey of Incentives (PSI), and b) by conducting semi-structured, qualitative interviews with 5 treatment providers. Overall, the positive statements received widespread support, while the limitations and objections to CM were not generally supported. No significant association was found between beliefs about CM and participant characteristics, except for AA fellowship, which predicted less support for the use of tangible incentives. Reflexive Thematic Analysis (Reflexive TA) of the qualitative data resulted in three major themes developed from the codes: 1) Great, but where is the money coming from? 2) It might help this group of clients, but not that group. 3) I’m interested to see how and if CM really works. This suggests practitioners are positively interested in CM, but also doubtful if such interventions can be an important – let alone a deciding – factor in long-term recovery from SUD, unless they see proof thereof. This ...
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