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Sampson FC, Hughes J, Long J, Buykx P, Goodacre SW, Snooks H, Edwards A, Evans B, Jones J, Moore C, Johnston S. Is a randomised controlled trial of take home naloxone distributed in emergency settings likely to be feasible and acceptable? Findings from a UK qualitative study exploring perspectives of people who use opioids and emergency services staff. BMC Emerg Med 2024; 24:75. [PMID: 38679713 PMCID: PMC11057101 DOI: 10.1186/s12873-024-00987-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Distribution of take-home naloxone (THN) by emergency services may increase access to THN and reduce deaths and morbidity from opioid overdose. As part of a feasibility study for a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of distribution of THN kits and education within ambulance services and Emergency Departments (EDs), we used qualitative methods to explore key stakeholders' perceptions of feasibility and acceptability of delivering the trial. METHODS We undertook semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 26 people who use opioids and with 20 paramedics and ED staff from two intervention sites between 2019 and 2021. Interviews and focus groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using Framework Analysis. RESULTS People using opioids reported high awareness of overdose management, including personal experience of THN use. Staff perceived emergency service provision of THN as a low-cost, low-risk intervention with potential to reduce mortality, morbidity and health service use. Staff understood the trial aims and considered it compatible with their work. All participants supported widening access to THN but reported limited trial recruitment opportunities partly due to difficulties in consenting patients during overdose. Procedural problems, restrictive recruitment protocols, limited staff buy-in and patients already owning THN limited trial recruitment. Determining trial effectiveness was challenging due to high levels of alternative community provision of THN. CONCLUSIONS Distribution of THN in emergency settings was considered feasible and acceptable for stakeholders but an RCT to establish the effectiveness of THN delivery is unlikely to generate further useful evidence due to difficulties in recruiting patients and assessing benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- F C Sampson
- Division of Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
| | - J Hughes
- Division of Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - J Long
- Division of Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - P Buykx
- School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - S W Goodacre
- Division of Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - H Snooks
- Department of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - A Edwards
- Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Bridie Evans
- Department of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Jenna Jones
- Department of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Chris Moore
- Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Cardiff, UK
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Welch S, Moles R, Viardot A, Deweerd P, Daly S, Lee K. Connecting the Dots of Care: A pilot study linking Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples with diabetes care in hospital, using hospital pharmacists. EXPLORATORY RESEARCH IN CLINICAL AND SOCIAL PHARMACY 2023; 12:100351. [PMID: 37965249 PMCID: PMC10641541 DOI: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2023.100351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Diabetes is common among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, yet often undetected in hospital. Objective To identify how urban hospital pharmacists can detect if Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander patients have diabetes or a higher chance of getting diabetes. Methods A multi-methods study used data from patients, and researcher field notes. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples admitted to hospital over 12-weeks (July-October 2021) were prospectively identified from admissions lists. A hospital pharmacist-researcher visited eligible patients. Consenting participants had their blood glucose and HbA1c checked. Participants with HbA1c > 6.5% (no known diabetes) or 7% (known diabetes) were referred for endocrinology review during their stay. Test results and resultant diabetes plan were shared with their general practitioner. Two days after discharge, participants were called to gauge views on their hospital-based diabetes care. Barcode technology recorded pharmacist time. Voice-recorded field notes were thematically analysed. Ethics approval was obtained. Results Seventy-two patients were eligible for inclusion, 67/72 (93%) consented to take part. Sixty-one (91%) patients returned a HbA1c < 6.5, of which, 4/61 (6.5%) returned a HbA1c, 6-6.4. They were contacted to yarn about diabetes prevention. Six of the 67 (9%) qualified for endocrine review, 5 had known diabetes, one newly diagnosed. None were known to endocrinology. All participants telephoned were satisfied with their hospital-based diabetes care. Pharmacist time for initial introductory yarn, consenting process, organisation of HbA1c and results discussion was 20 min or 40 min if referred for endocrine review. Field notes guided understanding of service implementation. Conclusion This novel pharmacist-led diabetes screening service for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples appeared to provide a unique opportunity for screening and referral links in a holistic way. Future research is required to test this model by upscaling to include more pharmacists and other chronic disease screening and referral pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Welch
- St. Vincent's Hospital, 390 Victoria St., Darlinghurst 2010, Australia
- University of Sydney, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Camperdown, Sydney, N.S.W 2006, Australia
| | - Rebekah Moles
- University of Sydney, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Camperdown, Sydney, N.S.W 2006, Australia
| | - Alexander Viardot
- St. Vincent's Hospital, 390 Victoria St., Darlinghurst 2010, Australia
- Garvan Institute, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Sydney, N.S.W. 2010, Australia
| | - Pauline Deweerd
- St. Vincent's Hospital, 390 Victoria St., Darlinghurst 2010, Australia
| | - Scott Daly
- St. Vincent's Hospital, 390 Victoria St., Darlinghurst 2010, Australia
| | - Kylie Lee
- University of Sydney, Addiction Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Camperdown, Sydney 2006, Australia
- The Edith Collins Centre, Camperdown, Sydney, 2006, Australia
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic 3083, Australia
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Vic 3004, Australia
- National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6045, Australia
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Jiao S, Bungay V, Jenkins E, Gagnon M. How an emergency department is organized to provide opioid-specific harm reduction and facilitators and barriers to harm reduction implementation: a systems perspective. Harm Reduct J 2023; 20:139. [PMID: 37735432 PMCID: PMC10515241 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-023-00871-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The intersection of dual public health emergencies-the COVID-19 pandemic and the drug toxicity crisis-has led to an urgent need for acute care based harm reduction for unregulated opioid use. Emergency Departments (EDs) as Complex Adaptive Systems (CASs) with multiple, interdependent, and interacting elements are suited to deliver such interventions. This paper examines how the ED is organized to provide harm reduction and identifies facilitators and barriers to implementation in light of interactions between system elements. METHODS Using a case study design, we conducted interviews with Emergency Physicians (n = 5), Emergency Nurses (n = 10), and clinical leaders (n = 5). Nine organizational policy documents were also collected. Interview data were analysed using a Reflexive Thematic Analysis approach. Policy documents were analysed using a predetermined coding structure pertaining to staffing roles and responsibilities and the interrelationships therein for the delivery of opioid-specific harm reduction in the ED. The theory of CAS informed data analysis. RESULTS An array of system agents, including substance use specialist providers and non-specialist providers, interacted in ways that enable the provision of harm reduction interventions in the ED, including opioid agonist treatment, supervised consumption, and withdrawal management. However, limited access to specialist providers, when coupled with specialist control, non-specialist reliance, and concerns related to safety, created tensions in the system that hinder harm reduction provision with resulting implications for the delivery of care. CONCLUSIONS To advance harm reduction implementation, there is a need for substance use specialist services that are congruent with the 24 h a day service delivery model of the ED, and for organizational policies that are attentive to discourses of specialized practice, hierarchical relations of power, and the dynamic regulatory landscape. Implementation efforts that take into consideration these perspectives have the potential to reduce harms experienced by people who use unregulated opioids, not only through overdose prevention and improving access to safer opioid alternatives, but also through supporting people to complete their unique care journeys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunny Jiao
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, T201-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada
| | - Vicky Bungay
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, T201-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada.
| | - Emily Jenkins
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, T201-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada
| | - Marilou Gagnon
- School of Nursing, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, HSD Building A402a, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada
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Hill PL, Stoové M, Agius PA, Maher L, Hickman M, Crawford S, Dietze P. Mortality in the SuperMIX cohort of people who inject drugs in Melbourne, Australia: a prospective observational study. Addiction 2022; 117:3091-3098. [PMID: 35712795 PMCID: PMC9796078 DOI: 10.1111/add.15975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To measure mortality rates and factors associated with mortality risk among participants in the SuperMIX study, a prospective cohort study of people who inject drugs. DESIGN A prospective observational study using self-reported behavioural and linked mortality data. SETTING Melbourne, Australia. PARTICIPANTS/CASES A total of 1209 people who inject drugs (67% male) followed-up between 2008 and 2019 for 6913 person-years (PY). MEASUREMENTS We linked participant identifiers from SuperMIX to the Australian National Death Index and estimated all-cause and drug-related mortality rates and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs). We used Cox regression to examine associations between mortality and fixed and time-varying socio-demographic, alcohol and other drug use and health service-related exposures. FINDINGS Between 2008 and 2019 there were 76 deaths in the SuperMIX cohort. Of those with a known cause of death (n = 68), 35 (51%) were drug-related, yielding an all-cause mortality rate of 1.1 per 100 PY [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.88-1.37] with an estimated SMR of 16.64 (95% CI = 13.29-20.83) and overall accidental drug-induced mortality rate of 0.5 per 100 PY (95% CI = 0.36-0.71). Reports of recent use of ambulance services [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 3.77, 95% CI =1.78-7.97] and four or more incarcerations (aHR = 2.78, 95% CI = 1.55-4.99) were associated with increased mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS In Melbourne, Australia, mortality among people who inject drugs appears to be positively associated with recent ambulance attendance and experience of incarceration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope L. Hill
- Behaviours and Health RisksBurnet InstituteMelbourneVICAustralia
- School of Public Health and Preventative MedicineMonash UniversityMelbourneVICAustralia
- The National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs (NCCRED)SydneyNSWAustralia
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC)The University of New South WalesSydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Mark Stoové
- Behaviours and Health RisksBurnet InstituteMelbourneVICAustralia
- School of Public Health and Preventative MedicineMonash UniversityMelbourneVICAustralia
| | - Paul A. Agius
- Behaviours and Health RisksBurnet InstituteMelbourneVICAustralia
- School of Public Health and Preventative MedicineMonash UniversityMelbourneVICAustralia
| | - Lisa Maher
- Behaviours and Health RisksBurnet InstituteMelbourneVICAustralia
- Faculty of MedicineKirby Institute for Infection and ImmunityUNSW SydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Matthew Hickman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical SchoolUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | | | - Paul Dietze
- Behaviours and Health RisksBurnet InstituteMelbourneVICAustralia
- School of Public Health and Preventative MedicineMonash UniversityMelbourneVICAustralia
- National Drug Research InstituteCurtin UniversityMelbourneVICAustralia
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Lowenstein M, Sangha HK, Spadaro A, Perrone J, Delgado MK, Agarwal AK. Patient perspectives on naloxone receipt in the emergency department: a qualitative exploration. Harm Reduct J 2022; 19:97. [PMID: 36028882 PMCID: PMC9412772 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-022-00677-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Emergency departments (EDs) are important venues for the distribution of naloxone to patients at high risk of opioid overdose, but less is known about patient perceptions on naloxone or best practices for patient education and communication. Our aim was to conduct an in-depth exploration of knowledge and attitudes toward ED naloxone distribution among patients who received a naloxone prescription. Methods We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with 25 adult participants seen and discharged from three urban, academic EDs in Philadelphia, PA, with a naloxone prescription between November 2020 and February 2021. Interviews focused on awareness of naloxone as well as attitudes and experiences receiving naloxone in the ED. We used thematic content analysis to identify key themes reflecting patient attitudes and experiences.
Results Of the 25 participants, 72% had previously witnessed an overdose and 48% had personally experienced a non-fatal overdose. Nineteen participants (76%) self-disclosed a history of substance use or overdose, and one reported receiving an opioid prescription during their ED visit and no history of substance use. In interviews, we identified wide variability in participant levels of knowledge about overdose risk, the role of naloxone in reducing risk, and naloxone access. A subset of participants was highly engaged with community harm reduction resources and well versed in naloxone access and use. A second subset was familiar with naloxone, but largely obtained it through healthcare settings such as the ED, while a final group was largely unfamiliar with naloxone. While most participants expressed positive attitudes about receiving naloxone from the ED, the quality of discussions with ED providers was variable, with some participants not even aware they were receiving a naloxone prescription until discharge.
Conclusions Naloxone prescribing in the ED was acceptable and valued by most participants, but there are missed opportunities for communication and education. These findings underscore the critical role that EDs play in mitigating risks for patients who are not engaged with other healthcare or community health providers and can inform future work about the effective implementation of harm reduction strategies in ED settings. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12954-022-00677-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Lowenstein
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 122 Blockley Hall, 421 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. .,Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. .,Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Hareena K Sangha
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Anthony Spadaro
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jeanmarie Perrone
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - M Kit Delgado
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Anish K Agarwal
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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