This community-engaged project aims to improve the accessibility of rapid tests through a supported employment program for people who inject drugs (PWID). The program is called Peer Connect2Test (PeerC2T). PWID will be recruited by a community partner who provides syringe exchange services. PWID will the trained by the community partner to become peer health workers (PHW) to distribute SARS-CoV-2 rapid tests to other PWID. Investigators expect that PeerC2T will improve knowledge, self-efficacy, and health behaviors among PHW (Aim 1). The study will use the RE-AIM framework in Aims 2 and 3 to evaluate whether PeerC2T improves SARS-CoV-2 testing uptake among other PWID (RE; Aim 2), and identify intervention considerations (AIM; Aim 3). The overall goal of this project is develop a transformative community-driven intervention in partnership with a community partner to promote widespread access to rapid testing among PWID.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
350
PeerC2T is part of a supported employment program where PWID are trained and supported to provide PWID with job skills to be able to act as Peer Health Worker to facilitate distribution of rapid SARS-CoV-2 testing to other PWID. The effect of the training on the Peer Health Worker themself will be evaluated (Aim 1). In addition, in Aim 2 they will distribute the rapid test kits in places of residence such as tents, shelters, apartments, trailers, or houses or locations where other PWID frequently engage with services such as syringe exchange. The kit is the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test, which is approved to be used as a lateral flow immunoassay intended for the qualitative detection of nucleocapsid protein antigen from SARS-CoV-2. PWID community members will be offered a free test kit, and the Peer Health Worker will record whether the community member elected to take the test (yes/no), and they will also collect administrative demographic data on the PWID.
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon, United States
RECRUITINGQualitative semi-structured interview with PWID Peer Health Worker
Includes:(a) provided participant with purpose and meaning; (b) helped them create more meaningful social relationships; (c) provided opportunities for engaging with society in a positive way; (d) helped them feel competent and capable; and (e) facilitated optimism about the future. Coded using NVivo text-analysis software.
Time frame: 3 months post intervention involvement
Change in Self-efficacy of PWID Peer Health Worker
To test Aim 1 using qualitative data, we will develop self-efficacy items based on skills taught in the supported employment training 5-point response option (1 = Strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree).
Time frame: Change from Baseline Self-efficacy at 3 months
Change in Behavioral Intentions of Peer Health Worker
To test Aim 1, we will adapt questions from the Preventative Medicine Attitudes and Activities Questionnaire, and using the same response option, reframe the items based on how often they intend to engage in the behavior. We will develop the knowledge items based on skills taught in the training. Higher scores indicate greater behavioral intentions.
Time frame: Change from Baseline Behavior at 3 months
Change in Flourishing Scale (Well-Being)
To test Aim 1, we will use an 8-item summary measure of self-perceived success in important areas such as relationships, self-esteem, purpose, and optimism. Questions pertain to experiences over the past 4-weeks (e.g., My social relationships are supportive and rewarding, I am engaged and interested in my daily activities) and responses are indicated on a 7-point scale (1 = Strongly disagree, 7 = Strongly agree). The possible range of scores is from 8 (lowest possible) to 56 (highest PWB possible). A high score represents a person with many psychological resources and strengths
Time frame: Change from Baseline Flourishing (well-being) at 3 months
Percent of people who inject drugs who agree to testing for COVID-19
Peer Health Workers will offer a rapid test to 1000 PWID. The percent of PWID who agree to take the test serves as this measure for Aim 2a.
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
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