“To not feel fake, it can’t be fake”: co-creation of a harm reduction, peer-delivered, health-system intervention for people who use drugs
Abstract Background People who use drugs (PWUD) continue to experience not only high overdose rates but also growing infectious complications. In response, there has been a growing focus on increasing access to harm reduction resources, particularly among hospitalized PWUD. However, there is limited...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Harm Reduction Journal |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-025-01210-2 |
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| author | J. Deanna Wilson Stephanie P. Klipp Kelsey Leon Jane M. Liebschutz Jessica Merlin Cristina Murray-Krezan Sommer Nolette Kristina T. Phillips Michael Stein Nate Weinstock Megan Hamm |
| author_facet | J. Deanna Wilson Stephanie P. Klipp Kelsey Leon Jane M. Liebschutz Jessica Merlin Cristina Murray-Krezan Sommer Nolette Kristina T. Phillips Michael Stein Nate Weinstock Megan Hamm |
| author_sort | J. Deanna Wilson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background People who use drugs (PWUD) continue to experience not only high overdose rates but also growing infectious complications. In response, there has been a growing focus on increasing access to harm reduction resources, particularly among hospitalized PWUD. However, there is limited data on how best to integrate harm reduction into hospital settings. We describe using a Design Sprint, a human-centered design process, to co-create an intervention with people who have lived experience (PWLE) focused on improving access and adoption of harm reduction behaviors for hospitalized PWUD. Methods We recruited a sample of PWLE from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We recruited a total of 14 participants over a 3-week period from March to April 2024. There were four Design Sprint sessions, two-hours in length, delivered via HIPAA-compliant zoom. Participants identified intervention components, sketched the intervention, and prototyped the planned intervention process. Sessions were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The team identified intervention components and key themes using thematic analysis. Results There were 14 PWLE (mean age 40.4 years; majority white) who participated in at least one Design Sprint session. Participants conceptualized an intervention delivered by a THRIVE navigator who establishes rapport, identifies what if any goals the participant may have, offers information from a menu of harm reduction topics, and helps participants create a Wellness Plan focused on achieving their goals and overcoming likely barriers. The THRIVE navigator will then follow-up via weekly text messages. There were four additional themes that informed intervention content and implementation. These were related to the hospital being experienced as a hostile environment to PWUD; the value of health information being delivered by PWLE who can speak authentically; the importance of creating a flexible participant-led intervention offering a range of content; and the importance of neutrality to building authenticity and attaining participant buy-in. Conclusions The Design Sprint process allowed for rich input from PWLE on the design, scope, content, and implementation of the THRIVE intervention. Findings highlight the importance of a peer navigator role to embody relational harm reduction and guide THRIVE participants in education and goal setting around a host of wellness-related behaviors. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-65711fad33024ef6bae0dc33c90b8669 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1477-7517 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Harm Reduction Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-65711fad33024ef6bae0dc33c90b86692025-08-20T02:36:50ZengBMCHarm Reduction Journal1477-75172025-06-0122S111610.1186/s12954-025-01210-2“To not feel fake, it can’t be fake”: co-creation of a harm reduction, peer-delivered, health-system intervention for people who use drugsJ. Deanna Wilson0Stephanie P. Klipp1Kelsey Leon2Jane M. Liebschutz3Jessica Merlin4Cristina Murray-Krezan5Sommer Nolette6Kristina T. Phillips7Michael Stein8Nate Weinstock9Megan Hamm10Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPrevention PointDepartment of Family Medicine and Community Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaDivision of General Internal Medicine, Center for Research On Healthcare, University of PittsburghDivision of General Internal Medicine, Center for Research On Healthcare, University of PittsburghDivision of General Internal Medicine, Center for Research On Healthcare, University of PittsburghPregnancy Recovery Center, UPMCCenter for Integrated Health Care Research, Kaiser Permanente HawaiiDepartment of Health Law, Policy & Management, Boston University School of Public HealthDivision of General Internal Medicine, Center for Research On Healthcare, University of PittsburghCenter for Biostatistics and Qualitative Methodology, University of PittsburghAbstract Background People who use drugs (PWUD) continue to experience not only high overdose rates but also growing infectious complications. In response, there has been a growing focus on increasing access to harm reduction resources, particularly among hospitalized PWUD. However, there is limited data on how best to integrate harm reduction into hospital settings. We describe using a Design Sprint, a human-centered design process, to co-create an intervention with people who have lived experience (PWLE) focused on improving access and adoption of harm reduction behaviors for hospitalized PWUD. Methods We recruited a sample of PWLE from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We recruited a total of 14 participants over a 3-week period from March to April 2024. There were four Design Sprint sessions, two-hours in length, delivered via HIPAA-compliant zoom. Participants identified intervention components, sketched the intervention, and prototyped the planned intervention process. Sessions were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The team identified intervention components and key themes using thematic analysis. Results There were 14 PWLE (mean age 40.4 years; majority white) who participated in at least one Design Sprint session. Participants conceptualized an intervention delivered by a THRIVE navigator who establishes rapport, identifies what if any goals the participant may have, offers information from a menu of harm reduction topics, and helps participants create a Wellness Plan focused on achieving their goals and overcoming likely barriers. The THRIVE navigator will then follow-up via weekly text messages. There were four additional themes that informed intervention content and implementation. These were related to the hospital being experienced as a hostile environment to PWUD; the value of health information being delivered by PWLE who can speak authentically; the importance of creating a flexible participant-led intervention offering a range of content; and the importance of neutrality to building authenticity and attaining participant buy-in. Conclusions The Design Sprint process allowed for rich input from PWLE on the design, scope, content, and implementation of the THRIVE intervention. Findings highlight the importance of a peer navigator role to embody relational harm reduction and guide THRIVE participants in education and goal setting around a host of wellness-related behaviors.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-025-01210-2 |
| spellingShingle | J. Deanna Wilson Stephanie P. Klipp Kelsey Leon Jane M. Liebschutz Jessica Merlin Cristina Murray-Krezan Sommer Nolette Kristina T. Phillips Michael Stein Nate Weinstock Megan Hamm “To not feel fake, it can’t be fake”: co-creation of a harm reduction, peer-delivered, health-system intervention for people who use drugs Harm Reduction Journal |
| title | “To not feel fake, it can’t be fake”: co-creation of a harm reduction, peer-delivered, health-system intervention for people who use drugs |
| title_full | “To not feel fake, it can’t be fake”: co-creation of a harm reduction, peer-delivered, health-system intervention for people who use drugs |
| title_fullStr | “To not feel fake, it can’t be fake”: co-creation of a harm reduction, peer-delivered, health-system intervention for people who use drugs |
| title_full_unstemmed | “To not feel fake, it can’t be fake”: co-creation of a harm reduction, peer-delivered, health-system intervention for people who use drugs |
| title_short | “To not feel fake, it can’t be fake”: co-creation of a harm reduction, peer-delivered, health-system intervention for people who use drugs |
| title_sort | to not feel fake it can t be fake co creation of a harm reduction peer delivered health system intervention for people who use drugs |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-025-01210-2 |
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