Community Peer Researchers’ Experience in a Tobacco Dependence Community-Based Participatory Action Research Project

SESSION TITLE: Tobacco Cessation and Prevention SESSION TYPE: Original Investigation Poster PRESENTED ON: Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at 01:30 PM - 02:30 PM PURPOSE: Ideally, in the Community Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR), community members should participate in all research phases. This framework presents multiple advantages such as improving health outcomes and social disparities particularly in low socioeconomic populations. However, operationalization and the extent of community involvement to improve health outcomes are still unclear. Despite significantly higher prevalence of tobacco dependence in drug users and in the marginally housed population, smoking cessation in this population is rarely addressed. Furthermore, no study prior to the PROMPT project (Participatory Research in Ottawa: Management and Point-of-care of Tobacco) has investigated the impact of peer-led programs on tobacco dependence in this marginalized population. The objective is to assess peer researchers’ experiences in participating CBPAR - the PROMPT project, a prospective cohort study on tobacco dependence in the most marginalized inner city population of Ottawa. METHODS: For PROMPT, 4 peer researchers with lived experience were recruited from the same target population as PROMPT (current or ex-homeless/insecurely housed/multi-drug user living in Ottawa, Canada). The research peers participated in all research phases: Conception of the research question, designing questionnaires to implementation and knowledge translation. The peers underwent intensive training to obtain participants’ consent, administer the study questionnaires and handheld spirometry. Peer researchers recruited and enrolled all 80 participants and were responsible for initial intake and follow-ups. Retention strategies designed by peers were implemented such as social-network based approaches. An honorarium was paid to peers for their work on the project. In April 2016, we will conduct individual peer researcher’s interviews to learn about their experiences. This final survey will include items to address peer experiences in participating in all study steps: conception/design, training, recruitment/enrollment, follow-up, retention, group meetings, dissemination and knowledge translation. RESULTS: Of the 4, 2 peers had prior experience in with community-based research, 1 had participated in knowledge dissemination and 1 was research naive. During the study, 2 peers got a full-time job with neighboring organizations. PROMPT project outcomes impressed not just the academicians but the peers as well: participants reduced/quit tobacco, reduced/quit other illicit substances, found jobs, got new hobbies and rekindled old hobbies. In short, PROMPT participants improved their general social and economic standing, not just reduced/quit tobacco use which was the primary outcome. The results of the final survey describing peer experiences will be available in April 2016. CONCLUSIONS: CBPAR with a true partnership between peer researchers and academicians throughout the research process is mutually beneficial. In the PROMPT project, it is clear that peer researchers contributed greatly to the projects’ success. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: CBPAR appears to be a promising method to address tobacco dependence in the marginalized population of Ottawa. This framework could be implemented in other maginalized populations. DISCLOSURE: Tina Kaur: Grant monies (from sources other than industry): Champlain LHIN, Grant monies (from sources other than industry): Divisions of Respirology and Cardiology of the Ottawa Hospital, Grant monies (from sources other than industry): Department of Medicine of the Ottawa Hospital , Grant monies (from sources other than industry): The Ottawa Hospital Tiffany Rose: Grant monies (from sources other than industry): The Ottawa Hospital, Grant monies (from sources other than industry): Champlain LHIN, Grant monies (from sources other than industry): The Ottawa Hospital Department of Medicine, Grant monies (from sources other than industry): The Ottawa Hospital Division of Respirology and Cardiology Kelly Florence: Grant monies (from sources other than industry): The Ottawa Hospital, Grant monies (from sources other than industry): Champlain LHIN, Grant monies (from sources other than industry): The Ottawa Hospital Department of Medicine, Grant monies (from sources other than industry): The Ottawa Hospital Division of Respirology and Cardiology Smita Pakhale: Grant monies (from sources other than industry): The Ottawa Hospital, Grant monies (from sources other than industry): Champlain LHIN, Grant monies (from sources other than industry): The Ottawa Hospital Department of Medicine, Grant monies (from sources other than industry): The Ottawa Hospital Division of Respirology and Cardiology The following authors have nothing to disclose: Catherine Charron No Product/Research Disclosure Information