Peer support workers as a bridge: a qualitative study exploring the role of peer support workers in the care of people who use drugs during and after hospitalization

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dc.contributor.authorLennox, Robin
dc.contributor.authorLamarche, Larkin
dc.contributor.authorO’Shea, Tim
dc.date.accessioned2025-06-19T20:08:11Z
dc.date.available2025-06-19T20:08:11Z
dc.date.issued2021-02-16
dc.description© The Author(s) 2021. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made.
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND: To describe the key qualities and unique roles of peer support workers in the care of people who inject drugs during and after hospitalization. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study. Key stakeholders were recruited including: people who use drugs who had been hospitalized, healthcare team members, peer support workers, and employers of peer support workers. Data were collected from 2019 to 2020 using semi-structured interviews that were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically. RESULTS: Fourteen participants were interviewed: 6 people who use drugs who had been hospitalized, 5 healthcare team members, 2 peer support workers, and 1 employer of peer support workers. At the core of the data was the notion of peer workers acting as a bridge. We found four themes that related to functions of this bridge: overcoming system barriers, advocacy, navigating transitions within the healthcare system, and restoring trust between HCPs and PWUD. We found two themes for building a strong bridge and making the role of a peer support worker function effectively (training and mentorship, and establishing boundaries). We found three themes involving characteristics of an effective peer worker (intrinsic qualities, contributions of shared experiences, and personal stability). CONCLUSION: Peer support workers are highly valued by both people who use drugs and members of the healthcare team. Peer support workers act as a bridge between patients and healthcare providers and are critical in establishing trust, easing transitions in care, and providing unique supports to people who use drugs during and after hospitalization.
dc.description.sponsorshipThe study was supported by the Department of Family Medicine Pilot Research Fund at McMaster University.
dc.identifier.citationLennox, R., Lamarche, L. & O’Shea, T. Peer support workers as a bridge: a qualitative study exploring the role of peer support workers in the care of people who use drugs during and after hospitalization. Harm Reduct J 18, 19 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-021-00467-7
dc.identifier.issn1477-7517
dc.identifier.other19
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-021-00467-7
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10315/42923
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSpringer Nature
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectHealth Services and Systems
dc.subjectNursing
dc.subjectHealth Sciences
dc.subjectBehavioral and Social Science
dc.subjectOrganisation and delivery of services
dc.subjectIndividual care needs
dc.subjectGeneric health relevance
dc.subjectGood Health and Well Being
dc.subjectHospitalization
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectPatient Care Team
dc.subjectPeer Group
dc.subjectPharmaceutical Preparations
dc.subjectQualitative Research
dc.subjectHarm reduction
dc.subjectPeer support
dc.subjectTreatment models/programs
dc.subject.meshHospitalization
dc.subject.meshHumans
dc.subject.meshPatient Care Team
dc.subject.meshPeer Group
dc.subject.meshPharmaceutical Preparations
dc.subject.meshQualitative Research
dc.subject.meshHospitalization
dc.subject.meshHumans
dc.subject.meshPatient Care Team
dc.subject.meshPeer Group
dc.subject.meshPharmaceutical Preparations
dc.subject.meshQualitative Research
dc.symplectic.issue1
dc.symplectic.journalHarm Reduction Journal
dc.symplectic.pagination19-
dc.symplectic.subtypeJournal article
dc.symplectic.volume18
dc.titlePeer support workers as a bridge: a qualitative study exploring the role of peer support workers in the care of people who use drugs during and after hospitalization
dc.typeArticle

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