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Harris GE, Watson JR, Li ATW, Ibáñez-Carrasco F, Muchenje M, Demetrakopoulos AS, McGee A, Chambers L, Ceranto A, Cumby C, Liddell M. Meaningful inclusion of people living with HIV as a model for workplace policies: Key findings from the project PEER study. Work 2024:WOR230289. [PMID: 38427522 DOI: 10.3233/wor-230289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a large number of people live with HIV, it is worthwhile to examine the integration of this group in the workplace. OBJECTIVE To investigate how the operationalization of GIPA/MEPA supports workplace policies and practices for PLHIV. The study aims to explore what is being offered to support PLHIV in community-based agencies and what can be done to enhance the offerings. METHODS For this community-based research, 2 bilingual online surveys were sent to 150 Canadian organizations that work closely with PLHIV or offer support to them. One of the surveys was for Executive Directors of these organizations while the other was sent to peers; i.e. PLHIV whose job is to offer services to PLHIV. Questions in the surveys varied between open-ended, binary, and Likert. RESULTS GIPA/MEPA are implemented in most organizations and Executive Directors affirmed that PLHIV and their impacts on the workplace are valued. There is a consensus among Executive Directors that formal support is provided but most respondents argued that this support is not specific for PLHIV. More than half of respondents were either unaware or uncertain about the existence of informal support. Peer-employees claimed that one of the challenges of disclosing HIV to receive peer support is that they may face stigma. CONCLUSION The application of GIPA/MEPA results in positive outcomes in the workplace. The study emphasizes the need to facilitate access to informal support.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James R Watson
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Alan Tai-Wai Li
- CAAT-Community Alliance for Accessible Treatment, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Marvelous Muchenje
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - A McGee
- Jacqueline Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Lori Chambers
- Jacqueline Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Canada
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Rudzinski K, Chan Carusone S, Ceranto A, Ibáñez-Carrasco F, McDonald L, Valentine D, Guta A, Hyshka E, O’Leary W, Cardow A, Strike C. Philanthropic donor perspectives about providing harm reduction services for people living with HIV/AIDS in a hospital setting. Harm Reduct J 2022; 19:124. [PMID: 36384634 PMCID: PMC9668384 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-022-00711-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hospital-based harm reduction services are needed to reduce drug-related harms, facilitate retention in care, and increase medical treatment adherence for people who use drugs. Philanthropic donor support plays a key role in delivering such innovative services which might fall outside current funding streams. However, little is known about how the principles, implementation, and practice of harm reduction services, which are often highly stigmatized, may impact donor behaviours. We explored this issue within Casey House, a speciality hospital in Toronto, Canada. METHODS Our mixed methods study utilized an explanatory sequential design. A convenience sample of n = 106 philanthropic individual donors, recruited via email, completed an anonymous web-based survey, between July and October 2020, which assessed their knowledge of harm reduction services and the potential impact of implementing new hospital-based harm reduction services on donors' future support. Following this, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with n = 12 of the donors who completed a survey and volunteered to be interviewed. Interviews examined donors' perspectives about harm reduction and their hopes/concerns for such programming at Casey House. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and participatory-based thematic analysis. RESULTS Survey data show a high level of support for hospital-based harm reduction services, with participants reporting that they "strongly agree/agree" with providing harm reduction equipment (85%), supervised consumption services (82%), and prescription opioid treatment (76%) at Casey House. A majority of participants (66%) claimed that implementing new harm reduction services at the hospital would not impact their future donation, while 6% said they would be less inclined to donate. Interview participants were supportive of harm reduction services at Casey House, recognizing the benefits of providing such services for hospital clients and the wider community. However, some spoke of the potential impact that implementing hospital-based harm reduction services may have on "other" donors who might be opposed. Although some believed harm reduction services should be fully funded by the government, most saw a role for donors in supporting such services. CONCLUSIONS Our findings show support of hospital-based harm reduction services among philanthropic donors and provide insight into how donor support may be affected when such services are introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Rudzinski
- grid.267455.70000 0004 1936 9596School of Social Work, University of Windsor, 167 Ferry Street, Windsor, ON N9A 0C5 Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 3M7 Canada
| | - Soo Chan Carusone
- grid.498714.70000 0001 0351 7433Casey House, 119 Isabella St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1P2 Canada ,grid.25073.330000 0004 1936 8227McMaster Collaborative for Health and Aging, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1 Canada
| | - Andre Ceranto
- grid.498714.70000 0001 0351 7433Casey House, 119 Isabella St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1P2 Canada
| | - Francisco Ibáñez-Carrasco
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 3M7 Canada
| | - Lisa McDonald
- grid.498714.70000 0001 0351 7433Casey House, 119 Isabella St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1P2 Canada
| | - Dean Valentine
- grid.498714.70000 0001 0351 7433Casey House, 119 Isabella St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1P2 Canada
| | - Adrian Guta
- grid.267455.70000 0004 1936 9596School of Social Work, University of Windsor, 167 Ferry Street, Windsor, ON N9A 0C5 Canada
| | - Elaine Hyshka
- grid.17089.370000 0001 2190 316XSchool of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-256 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 - 87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9 Canada
| | - William O’Leary
- grid.498714.70000 0001 0351 7433Casey House, 119 Isabella St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1P2 Canada ,grid.268252.90000 0001 1958 9263Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University, 120 Duke St W, Kitchener, ON N2H 6P6 Canada
| | - Andra Cardow
- grid.498714.70000 0001 0351 7433Casey House, 119 Isabella St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1P2 Canada
| | - Carol Strike
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 3M7 Canada
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Eaton AD, Carusone SC, Ceranto A, Craig SL, Busch A, McCullagh JW. Training Peers to Ease Hospital Discharge: A Community-Clinical Partnership in Complex HIV Care. Prog Community Health Partnersh 2021; 15:225-60. [PMID: 34248066 DOI: 10.1353/cpr.2021.0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since many people now live with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as a complex, chronic health condition that may require frequent medical and psychosocial services, a potential new role for HIV-positive peers involves support during an inpatient admission that extends past discharge to improve the transition home from hospital. We sought to begin outlining scope of peer support in complex HIV care, by detailing a training curriculum alongside experiences and recommendations by Peer Volunteers. METHODS A community-clinical partnership designed a personalized peer intervention for people living with HIV who were acutely hospitalized and struggling with antiretroviral adherence and substance use. Five Peer Volunteers delivered the program, which involved being matched with a participant for a pre-discharge in-person meeting followed by frequent phone contact in the 7 weeks following discharge. A 4-day peer training focused on active listening, structuring a call, use of self, boundaries, and facilitating program closure. The curriculum was informed by theories of change, motivational interviewing, and simulation. Peer Volunteers participated in pre-match and post-match interviews with peer researchers (also living with HIV). Thematic analysis was employed by four independent coders to understand how prepared peers were and areas for program improvement. CONCLUSIONS Peers verified participant feelings and affirmed their experiences, followed-up on participant goals to track progress, disclosed their own relevant experiences to build rapport, and facilitated closure to enable program success. Peers struggled maintaining an emotional connection over the phone and were concerned when participants were nonresponsive. This article discusses how the training was piloted and adapted for practice.
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Souleymanov R, Brennan DJ, George C, Utama R, Ceranto A. Experiences of racism, sexual objectification and alcohol use among gay and bisexual men of colour. Ethn Health 2020; 25:525-541. [PMID: 29457468 DOI: 10.1080/13557858.2018.1439895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Previous research has shown that experiences of racial discrimination and sexual objectification are associated with health risk behaviours among gay and bisexual men of colour. However, little is known about whether racial discrimination and sexual objectification are associated with alcohol use among this population. This community-based study examined the association between racial discrimination, sexual objectification and alcohol use in a sample of 369 gay and bisexual men of colour (Black/African/Caribbean, Latino/Latin American, South Asian, and East and Southeast Asian) in Toronto.Design: Data were drawn from an online survey designed to examine issues of racism, homophobia, health and well-being among gay and bisexual men of colour in Toronto. Regression analysis assessed the relationship between scores on the Racism and Life Experiences Scale, Sexual Objectification Scale, and the CAGE questionnaire (a screen for alcohol use disorder).Results: Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that experiences of racism and sexual objectification are significantly and positively associated with a screening for alcohol use disorder. The interactions between Latino/Latin American race/ethnicity and experience of sexual objectification were also positively associated with a screening for alcohol use disorder.Conclusions: Health professionals should consider the role of racial discrimination and sexual objectification within the context of risk and treatment for alcohol use disorders, harm reduction, and HIV prevention for gay and bisexual men of colour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rusty Souleymanov
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David J Brennan
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Clemon George
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, ON, Canada
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