Health-care workers at London hospitals are being educated on improved harm reduction practices to help patients suffering from drug addiction.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and St. Joseph's Health Care London are using $72,768 from the federal government to train workers to create tailored harm reduction strategies for people who use substances. This includes increasing staff's understanding of a patient's experience for more approachable and compassionate care. To-date, more than 400 workers have received the specialized training, which was developed by Lawson Health Research Institute, the research arm of the two hospital networks.
"There’s a lot of stigma and misunderstanding about substance use,” said Dr. Cheryl Forchuk, scientist and assistant scientific director at Lawson. “This project aims to embed education on substance use and harm reduction as a foundational way to improve care and outcomes.”
Patients who use methamphetamine have reported to Lawson researchers a lack of understanding about addiction among health-care providers and hospital staff. This can lead some not to seek care, experience withdrawal while receiving care or to leave hospital against medical advice.
One example researchers found surrounded sharps boxes in inpatient hospital rooms. In situations where the boxes, used for the safe disposal of needles, were removed from the room of patients suspected of substance use it led to harm.
"About half of patients who use substances are still using in-hospital, since suddenly stopping use is often not feasible nor safe. Access to sharps boxes decreases the risk of injury to health-care teams and patients,” said Tammy Fischer, a clinical nursing educator in LHSC’s Mental Health and Addictions Program who is involved in the project. “People who use any injection must have safe means to dispose of used equipment.”
After educating staff of the importance of keeping sharps boxes in patient rooms, preliminary data from patient interviews showed they were more comfortable speaking to health-care teams and noted they could be more open discussing their addiction.
Funding for the project is through Health Canada's Substance Use and Addictions Program. London West MP Arielle Kayabaga spoke of the importance of these types of investments during a news conference held on Monday.
"Here in London, just like many other cities across Canada, we’re seeing substance use harms continue to take a tragic toll on our families and friends,” said Kayabaga. “We are committed to supporting organizations who are on the ground in communities, helping to keep people who use substances safe.”
Since 2017, the federal government through the Substance Use and Addictions Program has put $575 million toward nearly 390 projects across the country.
