Scholarlink

Background <p>Harm reduction workers (HRWs), while fighting the overdose crisis, are exposed to lifetime occupational stress and trauma, which in turn are associated with the long-term work and social functioning of this key sector. There is a critical gap in research on the occupational health of HRWs. The aim of this study was to adapt and pilot Stress First Aid (SFA), a peer-to-peer occupational stress intervention, for HRWs.</p> Methods <p>The adapted SFA/HRW model was a 2-hour, in-person training followed by four, 30-minute, monthly learning collaboratives piloted in a non-profit recovery community organization. A convenience sample of workers and organizational leaders (<i>N</i> = 35) was recruited from the pilot site. Participants completed surveys assessing knowledge, confidence, beliefs, and use of SFA and preliminary well-being outcomes at baseline, 2-months, and 4-months after the training. Participants also completed a preliminary implementation outcomes survey, and randomly selected participants (<i>n</i> = 13) completed 30-minute virtual implementation interviews of the SFA model. Quantitative analyses included descriptive statistics, paired tests between timepoints, and Bayesian hierarchical models to estimate changes over time and assess intervention effects with uncertainty quantification. Qualitative data were analyzed using applied thematic analysis.</p> Results <p>Results indicated a positive effect on knowledge (β = 0.87, 95% CrI, 0.56–1.17), confidence (β = 0.84, 95% CrI, 0.52–1.16), and beliefs (β = 0.29, 95% CrI, 0.11–0.48) in SFA with increased use of SFA (β = 0.91, 95% CrI, 0.39–1.44) and observation of others using SFA (β = 0.69, 95% CrI, 0.17–1.21). There was a positive effect on overall work engagement (β = 0.27, 95% CrI, 0.02–0.51). Results also indicate &gt; 80% acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of SFA/HRW, with participants qualitatively reporting SFA aligned with their work and that SFA would be a valuable supplement to their pre-existing coping strategies.</p> Conclusions <p>There was an increase in observed practices of SFA and stability in well-being, coping, secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and turnover intention. Additionally, participants reported a significant increase in work engagement. SFA is highly acceptable, appropriate, and feasible among HRWs. The next steps are to test the effects of SFA/HRW against a control group in a randomized controlled trial.</p> Trial registration <p>The study NCT07149155 is registered on <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07149155">https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07149155</a>.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Stress first aid for the harm reduction workforce: pilot test results of an occupational stress intervention

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月16日

查看全文
  • Anmol Desai,
  • Juliette Rau,
  • Jake Samora,
  • Katie A McCormick,
  • Haresh Rochani,
  • Patrick Chang,
  • Richard J Westphal,
  • Patricia J Watson,
  • Justin K Benzer,
  • Kasey R Claborn,
  • Suzannah K Creech

摘要

Background

Harm reduction workers (HRWs), while fighting the overdose crisis, are exposed to lifetime occupational stress and trauma, which in turn are associated with the long-term work and social functioning of this key sector. There is a critical gap in research on the occupational health of HRWs. The aim of this study was to adapt and pilot Stress First Aid (SFA), a peer-to-peer occupational stress intervention, for HRWs.

Methods

The adapted SFA/HRW model was a 2-hour, in-person training followed by four, 30-minute, monthly learning collaboratives piloted in a non-profit recovery community organization. A convenience sample of workers and organizational leaders (N = 35) was recruited from the pilot site. Participants completed surveys assessing knowledge, confidence, beliefs, and use of SFA and preliminary well-being outcomes at baseline, 2-months, and 4-months after the training. Participants also completed a preliminary implementation outcomes survey, and randomly selected participants (n = 13) completed 30-minute virtual implementation interviews of the SFA model. Quantitative analyses included descriptive statistics, paired tests between timepoints, and Bayesian hierarchical models to estimate changes over time and assess intervention effects with uncertainty quantification. Qualitative data were analyzed using applied thematic analysis.

Results

Results indicated a positive effect on knowledge (β = 0.87, 95% CrI, 0.56–1.17), confidence (β = 0.84, 95% CrI, 0.52–1.16), and beliefs (β = 0.29, 95% CrI, 0.11–0.48) in SFA with increased use of SFA (β = 0.91, 95% CrI, 0.39–1.44) and observation of others using SFA (β = 0.69, 95% CrI, 0.17–1.21). There was a positive effect on overall work engagement (β = 0.27, 95% CrI, 0.02–0.51). Results also indicate > 80% acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of SFA/HRW, with participants qualitatively reporting SFA aligned with their work and that SFA would be a valuable supplement to their pre-existing coping strategies.

Conclusions

There was an increase in observed practices of SFA and stability in well-being, coping, secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and turnover intention. Additionally, participants reported a significant increase in work engagement. SFA is highly acceptable, appropriate, and feasible among HRWs. The next steps are to test the effects of SFA/HRW against a control group in a randomized controlled trial.

Trial registration

The study NCT07149155 is registered on https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07149155.