PATH (Peer Advanced Training in Harm Reduction) to Reducing Burnout Among Peers Who Deliver Harm Reduction Services (R61 Phase Pilot)

NCT07218562 | Enrolling By Invitation Phase 2

• 1 other identifier: 1R61DA061340
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The investigators propose to develop and test the effectiveness of PATH (Peer Advanced Training in Harm reduction) as an educational workforce intervention for improving peer recovery support specialists' (PRSS) harm reduction (HR) service delivery ability and quality and as a PRSS workforce and service system support. The PATH intervention combines (a) virtual education and (b) case-based consultation. The investigators hypothesize that PATH will improve organizational-level PRSS burnout, additional workforce outcomes, and HR service quality.

Conditions

Burnout; Compassion Satisfaction; Secondary Trauma

Keywords

peer recovery support specialist; harm reduction training; opioid use disorder; substance use disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Acceptability, Appropriateness, and Feasibility

  Measured using the Acceptability, Appropriateness, and Feasibility Scales (AIM, IAM, FIM), a brief validated 4-item instruments measuring participants' perceptions of the intervention's relevance, practicality, and fit for their work.

  Baseline - 3 months

• Training Satisfaction

  Measured using the Training Satisfaction Questionnaire, a custom Likert-scale survey assessing overall satisfaction with the learning experience, content relevance, and applicability to peer support practice.

  Baseline - 3 Months

Other Outcomes (3)

• Burnout

  Baseline - 3 months

• Compassion satisfaction and secondary traumatic stress

  Baseline - 3 months

• Harm-Reduction Knowledge, Attitudes, and Skills

  Baseline - 3 months

Study Arms (1)

PATH pilot participants

EXPERIMENTAL

Receive PATH pilot intervention

Behavioral: PATH (Peer Advanced Training in Harm reduction)

Interventions

PATH (Peer Advanced Training in Harm reduction) BEHAVIORAL

PATH is an educational workforce intervention for improving peer recovery support specialists' (PRSS) harm reduction (HR) service delivery ability and quality and as a PRSS workforce and service system support. PATH will include 3 hours of eLearning modules and 8 weekly ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes) meetings lasting 1.5 hours each, delivered over 2 months. Each ECHO session includes a 30-minute presentation followed by one hour of case-based discussion about a real client or problem. The entire PATH intervention will take 15 hours (3 hours of eLearning and 12 hours of ECHO participation) over 3 months. Participants are expected to complete all 15 hours, completing the 3 hours of eLearning before starting the 12 hours of ECHO activities.

PATH pilot participants

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• employed at a Recovery Community Organization or an organization providing direct harm reduction services, including syringe and/or outreach services
• current PRSS staff or administrator involved in HR service delivery
• is at least 18 years of age.

You may not qualify if:

• none

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Chestnut Health Systems: lead
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Chestnut Health Systems Lighthouse Institute

Chicago, Illinois, 60610, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Burnout, Psychological; Compassion Fatigue; Opioid-Related Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Mental Fatigue; Fatigue; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Occupational Stress; Narcotic-Related Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Dennis P Watson, PhD

  Chestnut Health Systems

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 2
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Senior Research Scientist

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 30, 2025
• First Posted: October 20, 2025
• Study Start: January 12, 2026
• Primary Completion: April 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Last Updated: March 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
• Access Criteria: The study protocol, statistical analysis plan, and informed consent form will be made publicly available on Open Science Framework.

Locations

US (1)