Doing community-based research during dual public health emergencies (COVID and overdose)
Date
2023
Authors
Beck McGreevy, Phoenix
Wood, Shawn
Thomson, Erica
Burmeister, Charlene
Spence, Heather
Pelletier, Josh
Giesinger, Willow
McDougall, Jenny
McLeod, Rebecca
Hutchison, Abby
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Harm Reduction Journal
Abstract
Meaningful engagement and partnerships with people who use drugs are essential to conducting research that is relevant and impactful in supporting desired outcomes of drug consumption as well as reducing drug-related harms of overdose and COVID-19. Community-based participatory research is a key strategy for engaging communities in research that directly affects their lives. While there are growing descriptions of community-based participatory research with people who use drugs and identification of key principles for conducting research, there is a gap in relation to models and frameworks to guide research partnerships with people who use drugs. The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for research partnerships between people who use drugs and academic researchers, collaboratively developed and implemented as part of an evaluation of a provincial prescribed safer supply initiative introduced during dual public health emergencies (overdose and COVID-19) in British Columbia, Canada. The framework shifts from having researchers choose among multiple models (advisory, partnership and employment) to incorporating multiple roles within an overall community-based participatory research approach. Advocacy by and for drug users was identified as a key role and reason for engaging in research. Overall, both academic researchers and Peer Research Associates benefited within this collaborative partnerships approach. Each offered their expertise, creating opportunities for omni-directional learning and enhancing the research. The shift from fixed models to flexible roles allows for a range of involvement that accommodates varying time, energy and resources. Facilitators of involvement include development of trust and partnering with networks of people who use drugs, equitable pay, a graduate-level research assistant dedicated to ongoing orientation and communication, technical supports as well as fluidity in roles and opportunities. Key challenges included working in geographically dispersed locations, maintaining contact and connection over the course of the project and ensuring ongoing sustainable but flexible employment.
Description
Keywords
community-based participatory research, COVID-19, drug user groups, drug user organizations, health equity, overdose, patient-oriented research, people who use drugs, public health emergencies, substance use
Citation
McGreevy, P. B., Wood, S., Thomson, E., Burmeister, C., Spence, H., Pelletier, J., Giesinger, W., McDougall, J., McLeod, R., Hutchison, A., Lock, K., Norton, A., Barker, B., Urbanoski, K., Slaunwhite, A., Nosyk, B., & Pauly, B. (2023). Doing community-based research during dual public health emergencies (COVID and overdose). Harm Reduction Journal, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00852-4