Teaching Harm Reduction in a Hospital Setting: A Peer-led Intervention

NCT ID: NCT06843213

Last Updated: 2025-09-17

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

390 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-02-18

Study Completion Date

2028-08-01

Brief Summary

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The purpose of the study is to develop an acceptable, feasible, and effective peer-led bundle of harm reduction services to be delivered in the hospital setting, called the THRIVE intervention.

The main question it aims to answer is: Will participants receiving the THRIVE intervention have a reduced risk of self-reported non-fatal overdoses OR skin/soft tissue infections compared to participants receiving enhanced usual care?

Researchers will compare the THRIVE model to enhanced usual care to see if the THRIVE model helps participants reduce their number of self-reported non-fatal overdoses OR skin/soft tissue infections.

Intervention participants will:

* Receive one in-person session from a peer support specialist while in the hospital
* Receive weekly text messages from the peer support specialist for a 12-week period
* Receive monthly, multiple-choice assessments via text message at Month 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6
* Complete a baseline, 3-month, and 6-month assessment with Research Assistants

Enhanced usual care participants will:

* Receive a handout with harm reduction education and resources in their local area
* Receive monthly, multiple-choice assessments via text message at Month 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6
* Complete a baseline, 3-month, and 6-month assessment with Research Assistants

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Opioid Use Disorder Harm Reduction

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Peer Intervention

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Peer Intervention

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive one peer-led, in-person session boosted by weekly text messages over a 12-week period.

Enhanced Usual Care

Group Type OTHER

Enhanced Usual Care

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will receive a handout that includes harm reduction education and resources in their local area as part of enhanced usual care.

Interventions

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Peer Intervention

Participants will receive one peer-led, in-person session boosted by weekly text messages over a 12-week period.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Enhanced Usual Care

Participants will receive a handout that includes harm reduction education and resources in their local area as part of enhanced usual care.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Participants who are: a) admitted to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Shadyside Hospital, UPMC Presbyterian-Montefiore Hospital, UPMC Mercy Hospital for inpatient or observation status, or b) seen in the Emergency Department setting at UPMC Presbyterian-Montefiore Hospital and UPMC Mercy Hospital.
* Participants must have a current diagnosis of Opioid Use Disorder based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria.
* Participants must be at least 18 years of age on day of admission.
* Participants must be able to speak and read English.

Exclusion Criteria

* Participants diagnosed with dementia and/or cognitive impairments.
* Participants with acute psychiatric complications, such as schizophrenia with acute psychosis, acute mania, or suicidal ideation (which may impact the ability of a participant to consent and actively participate in treatment).
* Participants who are pregnant or lactating at onset of study.
* Participants who cannot read or speak English.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Pittsburgh

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Pennsylvania

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Jacqueline D Wilson, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Pennsylvania

Locations

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UPMC Mercy Hospital

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

UPMC Presbyterian-Montefiore Hospital

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

UPMC Shadyside Hospital

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Research Program Coordinator

Role: CONTACT

412-679-9848

Facility Contacts

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Research Program Coordinator

Role: primary

412-679-9848

Research Program Coordinator

Role: primary

412-679-9848

Research Program Coordinator

Role: primary

412-679-9848

References

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Harm Reduction Principles. National Harm Reduction Coalition. Accessed September 9, 2022. https://harmreduction.org/about-us/principles-of-harm-reduction/

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Other Identifiers

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1R01DA057633

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

857581

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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