| Title | A social network approach to demonstrate the diffusion and change process of intervention from peer health advocates to the drug using community. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2012 |
| Authors | Li, Jianghong, Margaret R. Weeks, Stephen P. Borgatti, Scott Clair, and Julia Dickson-Gomez |
| Journal | Substance use & misuse |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pagination | 474-90 |
| Date Published | 2012 Apr |
| ISSN | 1532-2491 |
| Keywords | Diffusion of Innovation, Drug Users, Health Promotion, Humans, Patient Advocacy, Peer Group, Risk Reduction Behavior, Social Support, Substance-Related Disorders |
| 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. |
| DOI | 10.3109/10826084.2012.644097 |
| Alternate Journal | Subst Use Misuse |
