DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATION OF THE LYHTY PEER TRAINING PROGRAMME : A case study of user participation with injection drug users
Hekkala, Minna; Ohranen, Saila (2010)
Hekkala, Minna
Ohranen, Saila
Diakonia-ammattikorkeakoulu
2010
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2010112415461
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2010112415461
Tiivistelmä
Minna Hekkala and Saila Ohranen. Description and evaluation of the Lyhty peer training programme. A case study of user participation with injection drug users. Järvenpää, autumn 2010, 43 p.
Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, Diak South, Järvenpää Unit. Degree Programme in Social Services.
Degree: Bachelor of Social Services (UAS).
During the spring of 2010 Stoori drop-in centre organised a peer training programme for injection drug users called Lyhty peer training programme. The authors participated in this training programme by documenting the training during their placement.
The aim of this study was to describe and evaluate the Lyhty peer training programme. This was done in order to introduce one example of a peer training programme with injection drug users and to raise awareness of the potential of involving drug users in the services. The study deals with the issues of peer work, harm reduction, user participation and empowerment.
This research is a case study with a qualitative approach. Interviews and participatory observation were used as methods for data collection. Field notes from the placement were used as an additional source of data. Analysis of the data was conducted by using a thematic analysis method.
The results showed that the Lyhty peer training programme enabled discussion between service users and workers on an equal level. Moreover, the group members were motivated to participate in the training programme and peer work because they had a will to help other drug users. The main challenges with the training programme were field work supervision, participants’ intoxication and especially the lack of resources, such as time. Results of this study are unique to this particular case and thus cannot be entirely generalised to other peer training programmes. However, they show the potential of peer training programmes as means of involving drug users in the services and utilising the expertise they possess.
Key words: peer work, injection drug users, harm reduction, user participation, empowerment, qualitative research
Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, Diak South, Järvenpää Unit. Degree Programme in Social Services.
Degree: Bachelor of Social Services (UAS).
During the spring of 2010 Stoori drop-in centre organised a peer training programme for injection drug users called Lyhty peer training programme. The authors participated in this training programme by documenting the training during their placement.
The aim of this study was to describe and evaluate the Lyhty peer training programme. This was done in order to introduce one example of a peer training programme with injection drug users and to raise awareness of the potential of involving drug users in the services. The study deals with the issues of peer work, harm reduction, user participation and empowerment.
This research is a case study with a qualitative approach. Interviews and participatory observation were used as methods for data collection. Field notes from the placement were used as an additional source of data. Analysis of the data was conducted by using a thematic analysis method.
The results showed that the Lyhty peer training programme enabled discussion between service users and workers on an equal level. Moreover, the group members were motivated to participate in the training programme and peer work because they had a will to help other drug users. The main challenges with the training programme were field work supervision, participants’ intoxication and especially the lack of resources, such as time. Results of this study are unique to this particular case and thus cannot be entirely generalised to other peer training programmes. However, they show the potential of peer training programmes as means of involving drug users in the services and utilising the expertise they possess.
Key words: peer work, injection drug users, harm reduction, user participation, empowerment, qualitative research