Peer engagement in harm reduction strategies and services: a critical case study and evaluation framework from British Columbia, Canada

Greer, Alissa; Luchenski, Serena; Amlani, Ashraf; Lacroix, Katie; Burmeister, Charlene; Buxton, Jane A.

doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3136-4

Cited by 82 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Our findings echo longstanding practices in peer programming initiatives as part of service provision, where principles of reflexive learning, redressing power relationships, and developing relationships are key (Greer et al, 2016). Those charged with operationalizing CBPR would be well-served to further draw upon best practices in the delivery of peer programming toward the achievement of shared goals.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Community-based participatory research in a heavily researched inner city neighbourhood: Perspectives of people who use drugs on their experiences as peer researchers

Damon

Callon

Wiebe

et al. 2017

Social Science & Medicine

106

146

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Community based participatory research (CBPR) has become an increasingly common approach to research involving people who use(d) drugs (PWUD), who are often employed as Peer Researchers on these projects. This paper seeks to understand the impact of CBPR on PWUD, particularly those living in heavily researched and stigmatized neighbourhoods where CBPR projects are often located. This study draws on 14 in-depth interviews with PWUD who had previous experience as both peer researchers and research participants in CBPR projects conducted between July 2010 and February 2011. The study employed a CBPR approach in its study design, recruitment, interviewing, and analysis. Our analysis indicates that participants were supportive of CBPR in principle and described the ways in which it helped contest stigmatizing assumptions and researcher bias. Participants also reported positive personal gains from participation in CBPR projects. However, many participants had negative experiences with CBPR projects, especially when CBPR principles were implemented in a superficial or incomplete manner. Participants emphasized the importance of inclusiveness and active deconstruction of hierarchy between researchers and community members to successful CBPR among drug using populations. CBPR has been widely adopted as a research approach within marginalized communities but has often been implemented inconsistently. Still, CBPR can empower communities to contest forms of social stigma that are often reproduced through academic research on marginalized communities. Our findings describe how the benefits of CBPR are maximized when CBPR principles are consistently applied and when community based researchers are supported in ways that reduce hierarchies of power. This suggests a need for capacity building within affected communities to develop independent support, training, and grievance processes for peer researchers.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Community-based participatory research in a heavily researched inner city neighbourhood: Perspectives of people who use drugs on their experiences as peer researchers

Damon

Callon

Wiebe

et al. 2017

Social Science & Medicine

106

146

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Such organisations demonstrated these values through adequate funding and dedicated time to participatory initiatives (Greer et al 2016, Patterson et al, 2009b.…”

Section: Supportive Attitudes Of Consumers and Providersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other aspects of these organisations included well-defined internal and external communication pathways (Patterson et al, 2010), clearly articulated expectations (Greer et al, 2016), and the provision of feedback on the progress and outcome of consumer requests and suggestions (Patterson et al, 2009b).…”

Section: Supportive Attitudes Of Consumers and Providersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other studies reported that poor allocation of financial and human resources constrained CP projects (King, 2011, Patterson et al, 2009a, Patterson et al, 2009b, Patterson et al, 2010, Schulte et al, 2007, Treloar et al, 2011, Van Hout and McElrath, 2012. These studies found that CP was not considered 'core business' and that projects were often disrupted because of staff resignations, poor staff hand over (Greer et al, 2016, Treloar et al, 2011 and organisational time constraints (Patterson et al, 2009b). Patterson et al (2009a) reported that the focus on attaining performance targets, undermined the resources, energy, and commitment required for CP.…”

Section: Low Organisational Capacitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Consumer participation in drug treatment: a systematic review

Goodhew

Stein‐Parbury

Dawson

2018

DAT

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It is unclear how consumer participation (CP) can be optimised to transform drug and alcohol treatment services and improve health outcomes. This paper presents the findings of a systematic review examining the types and benefits of activities, and the factors that facilitate CP in drug treatment services. Design A structured search of four databases was undertaken to identify peer reviewed primary research literature in English. Screened articles were appraised. A content analysis was applied to examine the types and outcomes of CP and the associated factors affecting the process. Sixteen articles were included for review. Findings A range of CP activities were identified, and benefits included increased consumer satisfaction, and improved health service delivery. Factors that facilitated the process of CP included positive attitudes of both consumers and providers and employment of people with a lived experience of drug use. However, the lack of consumer and organisational capacity, negative attitudes of providers and power imbalances between consumers and providers constrained CP efforts.

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“…In BC, experiential workers, often referred to as 'peers' are at the forefront of overdose response initiatives [8,9]. In this context, experiential workers are those with past or present drug use experience who use that lived experience to inform their professional work [10]. Experiential workers inform and lead nimble and effective overdose response and prevention services for PWUD [11][12][13][14] within overdose response settings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“An Emotional Roller-Coaster:" Stressors Faced by Peer Workers in Overdose Response Settings

Mamdani

McKenzie

Pauly

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background Experiential workers or ‘peers’ (workers with past or present drug use experience) are at the forefront of overdose response initiatives and their role is essential in creating safe spaces for people who use drugs (PWUD). Working in overdose response settings has benefits for experiential workers but is also stressful, with lasting emotional and mental health effects. Yet, little is known about the stressors experiential workers face and what interventions can be implemented to support them in their roles. Methods This project used a community-based mixed methods research design. Eight experiential worker-led focus groups (n = 31) were conducted between November 2018 and March 2019 to assess needs of experiential workers. The transcripts were thematically coded and analyzed using interpretative description. These results informed a survey which was conducted (n = 50) in September 2019 to acquire quantitative data on experiential workers’ perception of health, quality of life, working conditions and stressors. Frequency distributions were used to describe characteristics of participants. X2 distribution values with Yates correction were conducted to check for association between variables. Results Five themes emerged from the focus groups that point to stressors felt by experiential workers: (1) Financial insecurity; (2) lack of respect and recognition at work; (3) poor living conditions; (4) inability to access and/or refer individuals to resources; and (5) constant exposure to death and trauma. Consistent with this, the top four factors that survey participants picked as one of the “top three stressors” included financial situation, work situation, housing, and caring for others. Conclusion Experiential workers are faced with a diversity of stressors in their lives which often reflect societal stigmatization of drug use. Recognition of these stressors is critical in designing interventions to ease the emotional, physical and financial burden faced by experiential workers.

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Peer engagement in harm reduction strategies and services: a critical case study and evaluation framework from British Columbia, Canada

Cited by 82 publications

References 18 publications

Community-based participatory research in a heavily researched inner city neighbourhood: Perspectives of people who use drugs on their experiences as peer researchers

Community-based participatory research in a heavily researched inner city neighbourhood: Perspectives of people who use drugs on their experiences as peer researchers

Consumer participation in drug treatment: a systematic review

“An Emotional Roller-Coaster:" Stressors Faced by Peer Workers in Overdose Response Settings

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