Faculty Collaboration Database

A social network approach to demonstrate the diffusion and change process of intervention from peer health advocates to the drug using community. Subst Use Misuse 2012 Apr;47(5):474-90

Date

03/21/2012

Pubmed ID

22428816

Pubmed Central ID

PMC3740960

DOI

10.3109/10826084.2012.644097

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84863374882 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   35 Citations

Abstract

Project RAP (Risk Avoidance Partnership) trained 112 active drug users to become peer health advocates (PHAs). Six months after baseline survey (N(bl) = 522), 91.6% of PHAs and 56.6% of community drug users adopted the RAP innovation of giving peer intervention, and 59.5% of all participants (N(6m) = 367) were exposed to RAP innovation. Sociometric network analysis shows that adoption of and exposure to RAP innovation was associated with proximity to a PHA or a highly active interventionist (HAI), being directly linked to multiple PHAs/HAIs, and being located in a network sector where multiple PHAs/HAIs were clustered. RAP innovation has diffused into the Hartford drug-using community.

Author List

Li J, Weeks MR, Borgatti SP, Clair S, Dickson-Gomez J

Author

Julia Dickson-Gomez PhD Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Diffusion of Innovation
Drug Users
Health Promotion
Humans
Patient Advocacy
Peer Group
Risk Reduction Behavior
Social Support
Substance-Related Disorders