Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37154222›Full record

ArticleJournal of addictive diseases

The integration of harm reduction services in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA): a qualitative analysis of barriers and facilitators.

Leah H Harvey, Samantha K Sliwinski, Kimberlee Flike, Jacqueline Boudreau, Allen L Gifford, Westyn Branch-Elliman, Justeen Hyde

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of addictive diseases. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
4.4field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Mental Health Prescribers' Perceptions of Patients With Substance Use Disorders and Harm Reduction Services.Federal practitioner : for the health care professionals of the VA, DoD, and PHS · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Leah H HarveyDepartment of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-3120-3065
Samantha K SliwinskiCenter for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.
Kimberlee FlikeCenter for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA.
Jacqueline BoudreauCenter for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA.
Allen L GiffordDepartment of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Westyn Branch-EllimanCenter for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.
Justeen HydeDepartment of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Boston University · USVA New England Healthcare System · USHarvard University · USVA Boston Healthcare System · US

Funding

BU Clinical HIV/AIDS Research Training Program (BU-CHART)T32AI052074 · NIAID · BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS · PI Benjamin P. Linas · 2003 to 2026
$6.7M
Advancing Clinical Research Training within Addiction Residency ProgramsR25DA033211 · NIDA · BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER · PI Patrick O'Connor, JEFFREY H. SAMET · 2012 to 2026
$4.2M
K12 Cardiopulmonary Implementation Science Scholars ProgramK12HL138049 · NHLBI · UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER · PI LEMON, STEPHENIE C., LINDENAUER, PETER KYLE · 2017 to 2021
$2.7M
Enhancing the Care Continuum for Veterans Who Inject Drugs Using Harm Reduction ApproachesI01HX003191 · VA · EDITH NOURSE ROGERS MEMORIAL VETERANS HOSPITAL · PI BRANCH-ELLIMAN, WESTYN, HYDE, JUSTEEN · 2020 to 2022
–
HSRD VA I01 HX003191NHLBI NIH HHS K12 HL138049NIAID NIH HHS T32 AI052074NIDA NIH HHS R25 DA033211
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSubstance use is common among U.S. military veterans and veterans are at high risk for negative consequences associated with substance use, such as injection-related infections and overdose. Although harm reduction services (HRS) are highly evidence-based, implementation in traditional healthcare settings has been limited. This formative, qualitative study sought to identify barriers and facilitators to the integration of HRS and identify appropriate implementation strategies to support the optimized integration of a comprehensive bundle of HRS in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

methodsSemi-structured interviews explored how harm reduction is currently understood by VHA providers and elicited input on perceived facilitators and barriers to implementation. Data were analyzed using a directed content analysis and the Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM) implementation framework was used to organize findings. Results were then mapped to relevant implementation strategies using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research - Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (CFIR - ERIC) tool.

results15 interviews with VHA providers were conducted across 5 sites. Respondents reported that current HRS are fragmented and dependent on the knowledge, time, and comfort level of individual providers. Stigma around substance use at the patient, provider, and institutional levels was noted to be a key barrier to HRS adoption. Based on identified barriers and facilitators, strategies that may be effective for increasing adoption of HRS include engagement of champions, communication and educational strategies, and adaptation of existing infrastructure.

conclusionsMany of the barriers identified in this formative study may be addressed using evidence-based implementation strategies. Additional research is needed to identify implementation strategies that are effective for addressing stigma, which is perceived to be a persistent challenge to the provision of integrated harm reduction services.

Indexed as

Harm ReductionQualitative ResearchSubstance-Related DisordersUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsDelivery of Health Care, IntegratedFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleUnited StatesVeteransVeterans Health ServicesCFIR – ERICHarm reductionimplementation strategiesqualitative research

Identifiers

PMID37154222
PMCPMC10630529
OpenAlexW4375864817

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.