Article
Khatmi, N., Michels, D., Rojas Castro, D. et al. Interaction and conflict between outreach workers and research officers in implementing collaborative action research in the field of harm reduction: a qualitative study. Harm Reduct J 18, 101 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-021-00551-y
Article Summary
This article describes the experiences of community partners with participation in research projects. The authors provide background information about the importance of collaborative approaches in health interventions, specifically for harm reduction interventions. The specific study examined in this article is called OUTSIDER, which has the goal of increasing outreach for safer injecting drugs education. In this study, the authors facilitated three focus groups with outreach workers to examine their views surrounding the implementation and evaluation of a harm reduction education intervention to help people who inject drugs inject more safely in off-site settings. The authors identified multiple areas of tension between research stakeholders and outreach stakeholders, including challenges related to using scientific versus practical knowledge and methods. The authors noted a need for collaborative research that includes equitable participation and integration of experience from both community stakeholders and research stakeholders. Additionally, the authors noted the need for clarity surrounding how and why the scientific process can be compatible with the realities of service provision for people who use drugs.