PATH (Peer Advanced Training in Harm Reduction) to Reducing Burnout Among Peers Who Deliver Harm Reduction Services (R61 Phase Pilot)

Overview

The investigators propose to develop and test the effectiveness of PATH (Peer Advanced Training in Harm reduction) as an educational workforce intervention for improving peer recovery support specialists' (PRSS) harm reduction (HR) service delivery ability and quality and as a PRSS workforce and service system support. The PATH intervention combines (a) virtual education and (b) case-based consultation. The investigators hypothesize that PATH will improve organizational-level PRSS burnout, additional workforce outcomes, and HR service quality.

The investigators will pilot the PATH intervention with two Recovery Community Organizations (RCOs) to understand its acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility. Administrator(s)/supervisor(s) will participate in PATH alongside their peer recovery support specialist (PRSS) staff. PATH will include 3 hours of eLearning modules and 8 weekly ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes) meetings lasting 1.5 hours each, delivered over 2 months. Each ECHO session includes a 30-minute presentation followed by one hour of case-based discussion about a real client or problem. The full PATH intervention will take 15 hours (3 hours of eLearning and 12 hours of ECHO participation) over 3 months. Participants are expected to complete all 15 hours, completing the 3 hours of eLearning before starting the 12 hours of ECHO activities. The investigators will administer the PATH components with the PRSS and administrators/supervisors from two RCOs, while assessing the duration and dose of an individual participant's engagement by tracking eLearning module completion and ECHO attendance. Voluntary survey and qualitative data collection will be used to assess the primary measures for this pilot. Data collection will also assess training satisfaction and changes in burnout, compassion satisfaction, secondary trauma, and HR knowledge, attitudes, and skills. Participants of the PATH pilot will be invited to complete surveys at three timepoints. The baseline survey will be distributed immediately prior to beginning the PATH training activities. Measures on the baseline survey will include demographics, burnout, compassion satisfaction, secondary trauma, and HR knowledge, attitudes, and skills. Following the completion of the eLearning components of the training (approximately 1 month post-initiation), the second survey will be distributed to all participants. Measures on the survey will include acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the training component, as well as training satisfaction. Finally, following completion of the final ECHO meeting (approximately 3 months post-initiation), the third survey will be distributed to all participants. All measures from the first two surveys will be included in the final survey, excluding demographics. All surveys will be collected in REDCap. Personalized survey links will be sent directly to each participant's email address. Each survey will take approximately 15-30 minutes to complete. Additionally, the investigators will track and obtain administrative training data for the eLearning modules and ECHO meetings, including engagement and attendance. PRSS staff participants will also be invited to complete a final qualitative focus group regarding their participation in the PATH training activities. Depending on the final number of participants per RCO, investigators will conduct 1-2 focus groups for each site. Each focus group will last approximately 60-90 minutes and be conducted via Zoom teleconference. Questions will focus on participants' experiences with the PATH training activities, particularly regarding the content, clarity, applicability, relevance, and usefulness of both the eLearning modules and ECHO meetings. Additionally, participants will be asked about barriers and facilitators to completing the PATH training activities and suggestions for improvement. Similarly, the administrator/supervisor will be invited to complete a final qualitative interview regarding their organization's participation in the PATH training activities. The interview will last approximately 45-60 minutes and be conducted via Zoom teleconference. Questions will focus on the administrator's opinions of staff experiences with the PATH training activities, particularly regarding the applicability, relevance, and usefulness of both the eLearning modules and ECHO meetings, as well as the impact of the training on their team. Administrators/supervisors will be asked about barriers and facilitators to having their staff complete the PATH training activities and suggestions for improvement.