Impact of Health System Engagement on the Health and Well-Being of People Who Use Drugs: A Realist Review
Engagement of people who use drugs (PWUD) includes their role in: advocacy work, working on research teams, planning health services, and providing front-line work (peer support, outreach etc.). Community involvement in health system planning and research has established benefits, including creating solutions that are accessible to end-users and fits their needs. Less investigated are the individual level health consequences for the participants. This is particularly important for PWUD, who are historically underserved or potentially harmed by conventional health services and academic structures. Poor experiences can result in feeling tokenized, and re-traumatizing the individual. When successful, however, some PWUD report improved mental health, feeling more confident, skilled, connected, and able to provide self-care.
We are conducting a realist review to answer the following questions:
How, for whom, and under what circumstances does health system engagement improve the health and well-being of individual PWUD?
How, for whom, and under what circumstances does health system engagement worsen the health and well-being of individual PWUD?
We will use our findings to develop specific recommendations on how to optimize health and minimize harm during PWUD engagement in health system planning and research.
Study Lead: Ginetta Salvalaggio
Funding Support: Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation
Status: Ongoing