Bénéfices d'un partenariat pour l'évaluation d'un programme de prévention des surdoses initié par des pairs.

In 2015, in partnership with a research team, the PROFAN program was initiated by a group of peers to counter the increasing number of overdose-related deaths in Montreal. As of 2018, they have offered, in collaboration with the Association des intervenants en dépendance du Québec (AIDQ) (Quebec Association of Addiction Workers), over 160 training sessions, and have connected with 500 Québec organizations, resulting in a total of over 2,000 participants. A participative evaluation process was undertaken with respect to the expansion of the program. The level of engagement of both partners was evaluated for each stage of the research process, as well as the benefits reported by each party. Examining the level of engagement during the evaluation process highlighted the leadership exhibited by the PROFAN team regarding funding and the dissemination of results. The research team provided leadership for the production of the protocol and analysis, and helped with dissemination among researchers and specialists in the domain. Data collection involved a collaboration between both parties. As for reported benefits, some were associated with the program’s operations (increased credibility, support for it being updated, establishing partnerships), and others involved peer empowerment (skills development). The need to urgently intervene to decrease the number of overdose deaths seems to have facilitated the funding of the program and the development of partnerships. The partnership between PROFAN and the research team has been marked by collaboration and a sharing of expertise.

Improving Transfer of Care Between Psychiatrists and Residents: Participants' Perspective on the Implementation of a Handover Protocol in a Psychiatric Emergency.

OBJECTIVES: Handover refers to the transfer of information from one professional to another during transitions of care. I-PASS is a mnemonic tool which stands for Illness severity; Patient summary; Action list; Situation awareness and contingency planning; and Synthesis by receiver. It was developed to standardize the handover process. Psychiatrists, nurses, and residents at the Montreal Jewish General Hospital psychiatric emergency were trained and the I-PASS handover model was implemented. METHODS: Thirty-one psychiatrists, nurses, and residents participated in this quality improvement project. Participants filled a pre-training questionnaire to examine the baseline status of handovers before attending a training session on I-PASS. Participants then filled a second questionnaire assessing the perceived quality of the handover training session, as well as anticipated benefits and challenges of I-PASS prior to its implementation. Finally, following implementation, two focus groups were held to collect feedback from participants. RESULTS: Pre-training, most participants reported that information provided during handovers was incomplete. Training was overall much appreciated. The most significant anticipated obstacle for implementing I-PASS was lack of time to properly fill out the form. Post-implementation, participants unanimously reported an improvement in the handover process. Handovers were perceived as faster, providing all key information about patients, and the perceived quality of the information was better. CONCLUSION: Overall, the implementation of the I-PASS handover model was much appreciated by participants, who perceived that handovers were more comprehensive, efficient, and of better quality.

Psychological predictors of retention in a low-threshold methadone maintenance treatment for opioid addicts: a 1-year follow-up study.

This study investigated the role of psychological variables and judicial problems in treatment retention for a low-threshold methadone program in Montreal, Canada. Logistic regression analyses were computed to examine associations between psychological variables (psychological distress, self-esteem, stages of change), criminal justice involvement, and treatment retention for 106 highly-disorganized opioid users. Higher methadone dosage was associated with increased odds of treatment retention, whereas criminal charges and lower self-esteem decreased these odds. Psychological variables could be identified early in treatment and targeted to increase potential treatment retention. Financial support for this study was provided by the Fonds de Recherche en Santé du Québec.

[Perspective of peer helpers regarding their experience animating a self-treatment program for panic disorders]. / Perspective de pairs aidants sur leur expérience d'animation d'un programme d'autotraitement du trouble panique.

OBJECTIVE: Support groups can help to reach individuals with anxiety disorders who are not or are only partly obtaining health services. The present study is based on a program that involves peer helpers as animators of a self-treatment group (Zéro-ATAQ). Their perspective has been documented in order to identify the aspects of the program which can be improved. METHODS: Eleven peer helpers led the 12 sessions of the program, which was dispensed in four regions of Quebec for 32 persons having panic disorders with agoraphobia. The perspectives of ten peer animators were documented based on a semi-structured interview that took place at the end of the program, and a focus group that was held over six months later with peer animators from each of the groups. Their comments were transcribed and a thematic content analysis was conducted. RESULTS: All of the peer helper animators reported that they enjoyed participating in the program, that they appreciated being able to help others having an anxiety disorder, and that the program helped them in their role as animators of these types of activities. Nearly all of the peer helpers emphasized the importance of being able to count on the supervision of a professional when needed. CONCLUSION: This study revealed (1) the feasibility of implementing a program of this kind in partnership with peers, (2) the qualifications necessary to lead this type of program, (3) the requirements in terms of training and available material, and (4) the importance of supervision.

Treatment modality preferences and adherence to group treatment for panic disorder with agoraphobia.

To examine the relationship between preference for group psychotherapy and adherence to group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for clients with panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA), 109 participants experiencing PDA completed a questionnaire measuring preference for group treatment (PGTQ) before beginning CBT groups. A t test was used to compare preference scores for group treatment to investigate whether participants who completed treatment differed from those who abandoned treatment. Participants who completed group therapy expressed higher preference for group treatment than participants who dropped out of treatment (t[107] = 1.99; p < 0.05). The PGTQ-4 presented adequate psychometric properties. Reliability analyses of the items retained after factorization demonstrated an acceptable level of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha of 0.76). Preference for individual or group therapy appears to impact treatment retention for patients with PDA. Matching patients' preferences to the type of treatment modality used appears to be pertinent, especially for the treatment of anxiety disorders. In terms of practical implications, the rationale and benefits of group therapy should be explained to participants reluctant to engage in group therapy. Individual intervention or a combination of group and individual treatment could be considered for clients who are likely to drop out of group therapy.

Predictors of caregiver satisfaction with mental health services.

The objective of this study is to examine the relative contribution of three main factors (characteristics of services and service providers, characteristics of patients and caregivers, and impact of psychiatric illness) to caregiver satisfaction with services. Results of this study are based on the responses of 154 family caregivers of individuals with mental illnesses in Quebec, and indicate that these aspects play a predictive role in caregiver satisfaction with services. A multiple regression model explained 42% of the variance in satisfaction. Collaboration with professionals is the key determinant in the model, as it contributes more than any other variable to satisfaction. Results demonstrate the importance of obtaining a better understanding of caregivers' satisfaction with services in order to increase their involvement in community integration.

Montreal Cross-Training Program: The contribution of positional clarification activities to help bridge fragmented prevention and treatment services for co-occurring disorders.

Co-occurring disorders in mental health and addiction present a high prevalence, but services available to prevent and treat them are often fragmented. Cross-training activities have been used to help minimise breaks in service continuity. This study assesses to what extent positional clarification (a specific type of cross-training activity) can help bridge fragmented services for co-occurring disorders by providing information and promoting interactions to help professionals better orient and treat their clientele. A total of 2,107 participations were recorded for 11 positional clarification events taking place within the Montreal Cross-Training Program for mental health and substance use disorders between 2010 and 2016. The Kirkpatrick four-level training evaluation model was used to evaluate these activities. Evaluation questionnaires (n = 1,650) and interviews with a convenience sample of 32 participants were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. More than three-quarters of participants reported that the activity met their expectations and was relevant to their practice. Respondents also reported receiving useful information to better orient their clientele, discovering new resources, learning about the functioning of other resources, identifying members of other networks who could orient them when needed, and learning more about the theme of the activity and the different mechanisms for collaboration among the related services. Among those who participated in more than one positional clarification event, roughly three-quarters reported that they were able to call upon new resources at least once as a result of their participation, and were able to establish referrals towards resources that were unknown or less familiar to them prior to their participation. Results suggest that the programme meets its service integration objectives and that positional clarification events can lead to changes that can help facilitate the integration of fragmented services by improving participants' knowledge of specific themes and available resources to better orient and treat their clientele.

Post-training TMS abolishes performance improvement and releases future learning from interference.

The period immediately after the offset of visual training is thought to be critical for memory consolidation. Nevertheless, we still lack direct evidence for the causal role of this period to perceptual learning of either previously or subsequently trained material. To address these issues, we had human subjects complete two consecutive trainings with different tasks (detecting different Gabor orientations). We applied continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) to either the visual cortex or a control site (vertex) immediately after the offset of the first training. In the vertex cTBS condition, subjects showed improvement on the first task but not on the second task, suggesting the presence of anterograde interference. Critically, cTBS to the visual cortex abolished the performance improvement on the first task and released the second training from the anterograde interference. These results provide causal evidence for a role of the immediate post-training period in the consolidation of perceptual learning.

Experiences of peer-trainers in a take-home naloxone program: Results from a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Take-home naloxone programs (THN) are harm reduction programs with the aim of reducing the number of deaths caused by opioid overdoses. A THN program in Montreal called the PROFAN project was implemented with the goal of reducing overdoses through the use of peer-trainers. Peer-trainers are people who are currently or have previously used drugs, who are trained in overdose prevention and are then responsible for delivering a training session to other individuals who use drugs. While studies on other peer-led programs have shown that peer-helpers gain numerous benefits from their role, little attention has been devoted to understanding this role in the context of overdose prevention. Additionally, to our knowledge, this is the first time that the impacts of the peer-trainer role are being studied and documented for a scientific journal. METHODS: This research represents a qualitative study using individual interviews with the six peer-trainers of the Montreal program to explore the benefits and challenges encountered in their role. RESULTS: Interview results suggest that there are psychological benefits received through the peer-trainer role, such as empowerment and recovery. As well, there are a number of challenges associated with their role and suggestions to improve the program. CONCLUSION: Knowledge about the impacts of the peer-trainer role will contribute to the development of THN programs. Additionally, the findings may also serve to demonstrate that THN programs are capable of not only reducing the number of deaths by opioid overdose, but that these programs may also have wider effects on a psychological level.

A vacation for the homeless: evaluating a collaborative community respite programme in Canada through clients' perspectives.

This study assesses the Urban Breakaway Project, a collaborative project offering a structured vacation in the countryside of the province of Quebec intended for homeless (or street) youths. The objective of this study was to document participants' perspectives regarding this project by examining their satisfaction, intention to change following their stay and perceived improvement with respect to their life situation. Another goal of this research was to investigate the relationship between satisfaction level and perceived improvement of participants. One hundred and seven individuals participated in the study, during Urban Breakaway's first year of operation. Satisfaction with the project, assessed with the global Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-3 score, revealed a positive relationship with global scores of perceived improvement, as measured by the Perceived Improvement Questionnaire [PIQ; r = 0.37 (67), 95% CI (0.15; 0.56)]. Regarding intention to change, the data indicated that 95% of participants had moderate-to-definite intentions to do something to change their lives. Participants reported an improvement for most items covered by the PIQ. They experienced the greatest changes in relation to mood, leisure, appetite, physical condition and self-esteem. Results indicate that the Urban Breakaway Project reaches not only street youths but also an older homeless population. Participants, regardless of their age, were found to be very satisfied with services obtained, and their satisfaction was significantly correlated with the perceived improvement in their situation. Qualitative data indicate that characteristics of the programme, such as the countryside setting, the focus on basic needs, the climate and the opportunity for socialisation, peer support (or belonging) and personal growth were appreciated.

[Barriers to treatment access reported by people with anxiety disorders]. / Obstacles de l'accès au traitement rapportés par des personnes aux prises avec un trouble anxieux.

OBJECTIVES: Our study examined the barriers to treatment experienced by people with anxiety disorders (ADs) who had not received services for their problems. Recommendations to improve treatment access made by participants are reported. METHOD: A web-based questionnaire on treatment accessibility for anxiety disorders was completed by 610 people living in Quebec reporting an anxiety problem. Chi-square tests were used to compare answers from people who received services (n = 151) with answers from people who had not (n = 434 ). RESULTS: Treatment wait times that were too long (X2 = 29.66, df = 1, P < 0.001 ), difficulties reaching a professional by phone (X2 = 13. 75, df = 1, P < 0.001 ), and geographical distance from service sites (X2 = 4.34, df = 1, P = 0.04) were obstacles that hindered participants who had not received the services they were seeking, more than those who had received services. CONCLUSIONS: Participant-reported barriers and recommendations highlight the need to increase access to health care professionals in terms of wait times, to train and inform primary care professionals about screening and treating ADs, and to develop psychotherapeutic services availability in the public health network.

Objective: Our study examined the barriers to treatment experienced by people with anxiety disorders (ADs) who had not received services for their problems. Recommendations to improve treatment access made by participants are reported. Method: A web-based questionnaire on treatment accessibility for anxiety disorders was completed by 610 people living in Quebec reporting an anxiety problem. Chi-square tests were used to compare answers from people who received services (n = 151) with answers from people who had not (n = 434). Results: Treatment wait times that were too long (χ2 = 29.66, df = 1, P < 0.001), difficulties reaching a professional by phone (χ2 = 13.75, df = 1, P < 0.001), and geographical distance from service sites (χ2 = 4.34, df = 1, P = 0.04) were obstacles that hindered participants who had not received the services they were seeking, more than those who had received services. Conclusions: Participant-reported barriers and recommendations highlight the need to increase access to health care professionals in terms of wait times, to train and inform primary care professionals about screening and treating ADs, and to develop psychotherapeutic services availability in the public health network.

Implementation of a panel of service users for the evaluation of mental health outpatient services.

The purpose of this study is to describe the experience of a standing panel of psychiatric outpatients over a period of five years. The procedure is used as a complementary method to assess client satisfaction regarding services provided by a Montreal psychiatric institute. During this period, 13 meetings were held, involving a total of 22 patients as active members of the panel. These sessions allowed 11 decision makers of the institute to consult the panel regarding various topics such as service organization, quality of services, and client information. In a context of internal evaluation, by giving direct and rapid access to service users' perspectives on key issues regarding service provision, the panel appeared to be a practical procedure for use in complement with other satisfaction assessment methods. Unplanned effects included the recruitment of participants as patient representatives on different hospital committees and associations, and as presenters in conferences and congresses.