| Popis: |
Background: The peer support model has been adapted in emergency departments (ED) throughout the country, specifically in response to increases in admissions resulting from opioid use disorder (OUD). The purpose of this study was to use community-engaged principles to identify implementation challenges and recommendations related to employing peer support workers (PSWs) in the ED to help care for patients that present after an opioid-related overdose. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted to identify challenges to and recommendations for implementing the peer support model in the ED to help care for patients that present after an opioid-related overdose. Nineteen stakeholders were interviewed, including directors/managers, nurses and PSWs. An inductive qualitative approach was used for the identification of themes from the interviews.Results: Three themes surfaced among the implementation challenges, including system level challenges, hospital level challenges, and challenges specific to PSWs (referred to as individual level challenges). Recommendations to address the challenges are presented for successful integration of PSWs in ED settings to help care for patients that present after an opioid-related overdose. Recommendations include, for example, clearly defined job descriptions and increasing understanding of what PSWs do among all hospital staff. Conclusions: PSWs can play a role in the care for patients that present to the ED after an opioid-related overdose and in doing so help address the opioid crisis. Through the identification of challenges, awareness of strategies to address these challenges, and proper planning, hospitals can implement PSWs into the ED successfully. Planning should include thoughtful conversations between leadership, ED staff and, PSWs, as well as a commitment from leadership and hospital staff to recovery-oriented care. For the successful employment and integration of PSWs into ED settings to help care for patients that present after an opioid-related overdose, planning should focus on four key areas, including (1) hiring the right PSWs for the position, (2) education ED and hospital staff, (3) establishing protocols, and (4) training and supervision. |
