Systematic Literature Review on Exploring the Effectiveness of Peer Support Programs for Individuals with Substance Use Disorders
| References | Study Design
|
Characteristics of Participant | Location of Study | Methods and Measures | Limitations of the study | Main Results |
| (Avalone et al., 2024)
|
Descriptive analysis
|
1785 patients, 1438 male (81%) with 45 years on average, and enrolled in Medicaid. A majority (N = 801, 45%) had alcohol use disorder. | 11 public hospitals in New York City, USA | Observational study of the Emergency Department (ED) Leads. | There was no protocol for staff roles during the study.
The study also observed Variability in patient engagement across the different hospitals.
|
Within seven days following the ED Leads’ interaction, most of the patients who accepted a referral within the system and received treatment services were undergoing detoxification: Systematic Literature Review on Exploring the Effectiveness of Peer Support Programs for Individuals with Substance Use Disorders. |
| (Bingham & Kelley, 2022)
|
Descriptive qualitative study design | Six American Indian peers with substance use disorders | Urban Montana, USA | Semi-structured interviews on the effectiveness of peer support for individuals with substance use disorder | The sample size used in this study was small and cannot fully represent the entire population. The study also did not outline long-term interventions for individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder. | The peers identified that the program helped them maintain their recuperation process, and the influence of peer mentors was critical to their success. |
| (Birrell et al., 2023)
|
A cluster randomized controlled trial | 12 secondary schools and 166 students | Australia | self-reported questionnaires on the effectiveness of the Mind Your Mate peer support program | The study sample consisted mainly of adolescents, thus limited generalizability | Students who participated in the Mind Your Mate program experienced a more significant decrease in symptoms of depression over a one-year period. |
| (Brady et al., 2022)
|
Qualitative research design | 20 peers with substance use disorder in the workplace. | Western New York | semi-structured interviews on the influence of workplace peer support on employees with substance use disorder | Participants may have provided socially desired responses, thus inaccurate feedback. The sample size was also small | Healthy personal coping strategies and strong workplace supports were identified to be crucial in the management of substance use disorder by the peers. |
| (Gruß et al., 2021)
|
Qualitative research design | 16 women who participated in an integrated care initiative for expectant and postnatal women with substance use disorder | USA(Unspecified state) | semi-structured interviews on the effectiveness of integrating peer support in the management of postnatal women suffering from substance use disorder | The use of semi-structured interviews on a small sample size may not have exhausted the intended experiences of the expectant and postnatal mothers. | Incorporating peer support in the management of pregnant and postpartum women suffering from substance use disorders was beneficial. |
| (Ibrahim et al., 2022)
|
Qualitative
research design |
17 adults working as peer support workers for substance use disorders | Egypt | semi-structured interview on the roles of peer support and its effectiveness on individuals with substance use disorder | The participants might have reported socially desirable experiences, thus causing a lack of authecityof the data collected
The sample size was also small and might not represent the general population |
Peer support was found to be effective, and there was a need for stakeholders’ support on peer support strategies to manage substance use disorder. |
| (Joo et al., 2022)
|
Qualitative
research design |
Individuals with varying roles in 7 peer support programs operating in healthcare and community settings | USA (Unspecified state) | Semi-structured interviews on the effectiveness of peer support in healthcare and community settings | The sample size was small to represent the general population.
The participants might have also had more positive experiences, thus causing selection bias.
|
Peer support provides educational and psychosocial support, reduces social isolation, and connects patients and caregivers to others with substance use disorder. |
| (Liebling et al., 2020)
|
Descriptive research design | Patients diagnosed with substance use disorder were admitted to emergency departments and inpatient settings in 20 hospitals. | USA (Unspecified state) | Program evaluation method on the effectiveness of peer support of patients diagnosed with substance use disorder in the emergency departments and inpatient units. | The participants might have responded based on their own socially desired experiences, thus inaccurate information. | Peer support was effective in managing patients with substance use disorder.
|
| (Parkes et al., 2022)
|
Mixed methods research design | 68 homeless individuals experiencing substance use disorder
|
Scotland and England | qualitative interviews on Supporting Harm Reduction through Peer Support (SHARP) initiatives to reduce harm in patients with substance use disorder | There was a lack of baseline and or follow-up data for some participants since they did not complete the study.
A small data size was used, which did not fully represent the general population. |
The SHARP initiative was effective and reduced drug use, and there was a marked increase in the incidence of prescriptions for opioid substitution therapy. |
| (Quilty et al., 2022)
|
Randomized control trial
|
225 outpatients receiving standard clinical monitoring
|
Australia.
|
Self-reported assessments on the effectiveness of (Breaking Free Online), a digital peer support program.
|
The participants’ self-reported information may be subject to biases
Also, the Participants in the study may have a higher motivation for treatment or greater digital literacy, thus causing bias. |
Digital peer support (Breaking Free Online)was cost-effective and practical for patients with substance use disorder.
|
| (Scannell, 2021)
(Turuba et al., 2023)
|
Qualitative research design
Qualitative research design |
Ten peer support workers from Massachusetts (7 male, three female), all working in programs through recovery-oriented systems of care, with 4 in emergency care settings and 6 in community-based settings.
Eighteen peer support workers are involved in the provision of services to youth ages 12–24 years.
|
Massachusetts USA
British Columbia, Canada. |
Semi-structured interviews on the roles and effectiveness of referral programs by peer support workers.
Initial focus group followed by interviews on the effectiveness of peer services
|
The study focuses on peer support workers within a specific system of care, who may not have the same experiences and effectiveness as other peer support workers in other settings.
The study focuses on peer support services within British Columbia, which may not fully represent other regions. |
Referral to Health care settings by peer support workers proved to be effective in the management of patients with substance use disorders.
The services offered by peer support workers were crucial in the management of patients diagnosed with substance use disorder.
|
References
Avalone, L., Lalane, M., King, C., Pfeiffer, K., Linn-Walton, R., & Barron, C. (2024). Integrating substance use peer support and screening brief intervention and referral to treatment services in the emergency department: A descriptive study of the ED leads program. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-024-00445-x
Bingham, D., & Kelley, A. (2022). Rethinking Recovery: A qualitative study of American Indian perspectives on peer recovery support. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332640.2022.2082620
Birrell, L., Debenham, J., Ainsley Furneaux-Bate, Prior, K., Spallek, S., Thornton, L., Chapman, C., & Newton, N. C. (2023). Evaluating a peer-support mobile app for mental health and substance use among adolescents over 12 months during the COVID-19 pandemic: Randomized controlled trial. JMIR. Journal of Medical Internet Research/Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, e45216–e45216. https://doi.org/10.2196/45216
Brady, L. A., Wozniak, M. L., Brimmer, M. J., Terranova, E., Moore, C., Kahn, L., Vest, B. M., & Thomas, M. (2022). Coping strategies and workplace supports for peers with substance use disorders. Substance Use & Misuse, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2022.2112228
Gruß, I., Firemark, A., & Davidson, A. (2021). Motherhood, substance use, and peer support: Benefits of an integrated group program for pregnant and postpartum women. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 131, 108450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108450
Ibrahim, N., Selim, A., Ng, F., Kasaby, M., Ali, A. M., Eweida, R., Almakki, D., Elaagib, A., & Slade, M. (2022). Experiences of peer support workers supporting individuals with substance use disorders in Egypt: Phenomenological analysis. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08393-5
Joo, J. H., Bone, L., Forte, J., Kirley, E., Lynch, T., & Aboumatar, H. (2022). The benefits and challenges of established peer support programs for patients, informal caregivers, and healthcare providers. Family Practice, 39(5), 903–912. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmac004
Liebling, E. J., Perez, J. J. S., Litterer, M. M., & Greene, C. (2020). Implementing hospital-based peer recovery support services for substance use disorder. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2020.1841218
Parkes, T., Matheson, C., Carver, H., Foster, R., Budd, J., Liddell, D., Wallace, J., Pauly, B., Fotopoulou, M., Burley, A., Anderson, I., & MacLennan, G. (2022). A peer-delivered intervention to reduce harm and improve the well-being of homeless people with problem substance use: The SHARPS feasibility mixed-methods study. Health Technology Assessment, 26(14), 1–128. https://doi.org/10.3310/wvvl4786
Quilty, L. C., Wardell, J. D., Garner, G., Elison-Davies, S., Davies, G., Klekovkina, E., Corman, M., Alfonsi, J., Crawford, A., de Oliveira, C., & Weekes, J. (2022). Peer support and online cognitive behavioral therapy for substance use concerns: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial. BMJ Open, 12(12), e064360. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064360
Scannell, C. (2021). Voices of hope: Substance use peer support in a system of care. Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, 15. https://doi.org/10.1177/11782218211050360
Turuba, R., Toddington, C., Tymoschuk, M., Anurada Amarasekera, Amanda Madeleine Howard, Brockmann, V., Tallon, C., Irving, S., Mathias, S., Henderson, J., & Barbic, S. (2023). “A peer support worker can really be there supporting the youth throughout the whole process”: A qualitative study exploring the role of peer support in providing substance use services to youth. Harm Reduction Journal, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00853-3
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Question 
Systematic Literature Review Paper
In this assignment, you will use your knowledge (practice + research) to search for effective practices within your area of interest. The purpose of this assignment is to write a paper that a provider, organization, agency, or community could review to inform their practices or policies.
You will be provided a copy of the article listed below. Please study the article before beginning to work on your assignment. This article provides an example of a systematic literature review.
Studying a published article is different than reading it. When you study this article focus on how the authors conceptualized the problem, posed the research questions, described the method for reviewing the literature, organized the results section, and finally conclude their study.
Systematic Literature Review on Exploring the Effectiveness of Peer Support Programs for Individuals with Substance Use Disorders
Table of Articles
The purpose of this assignment is to prepare your 12 articles for your SLR.
You will organize your articles in a table format similar to the Bazerghi et al. (2016) table. This table will be included as Appendix A in your SLR: Final Paper.
As you search for your articles, keep track of the keywords and databases you use. This will be part of the Methods section in your SLR: First Draft for Peer Review and SLR: Final Paper.
- Only use peer-reviewed, scholarly articles.
- Do not include literature reviews, meta-analysis, and other systematic literature reviews. You can use these studies as part of your introduction or your conclusion section but not as the articles you review.
- Use research databases such as Academic Search Premier, PsychInfo, PubMed which are available through Lindell Library.
- Usually, researchers doing a systematic review read all the articles that fit their criteria. Since this is for a course, please review the 12 latest articles that fit all your inclusion criteria.
Here are some examples:
Article: