Doing community-based research during dual public health emergencies (COVID and overdose)

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dc.contributor.authorBeck McGreevy, Phoenix
dc.contributor.authorWood, Shawn
dc.contributor.authorThomson, Erica
dc.contributor.authorBurmeister, Charlene
dc.contributor.authorSpence, Heather
dc.contributor.authorPelletier, Josh
dc.contributor.authorGiesinger, Willow
dc.contributor.authorMcDougall, Jenny
dc.contributor.authorMcLeod, Rebecca
dc.contributor.authorHutchison, Abby
dc.contributor.authorLock, Kurt
dc.contributor.authorNorton, Alexa
dc.contributor.authorBarker, Brittany
dc.contributor.authorUrbanoski, Karen
dc.contributor.authorSlaunwhite, Amanda
dc.contributor.authorNosyk, Bohdan
dc.contributor.authorPauly, Bernie
dc.date.accessioned2025-03-18T16:02:04Z
dc.date.available2025-03-18T16:02:04Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstractMeaningful 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.
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work was supported by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR, 172 671), the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR, 18 951), the Victoria Hospitals Foundation and the BC Ministry of Health. KU is supported by a Canada Research Chair through CIHR.
dc.identifier.citationMcGreevy, 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
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00852-4
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1828/21654
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherHarm Reduction Journal
dc.rightsCC BY 4.0
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
dc.subjectcommunity-based participatory research
dc.subjectCOVID-19
dc.subjectdrug user groups
dc.subjectdrug user organizations
dc.subjecthealth equity
dc.subjectoverdose
dc.subjectpatient-oriented research
dc.subjectpeople who use drugs
dc.subjectpublic health emergencies
dc.subjectsubstance use
dc.titleDoing community-based research during dual public health emergencies (COVID and overdose)
dc.typeArticle

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