Testing an Occupational Stress Intervention for Harm Reduction Workers in Substance Misuse Settings, Texas, 2024-2025 (ICPSR 39277)

Version Date: May 18, 2026

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Principal Investigator(s):
Suzannah K. Creech, University of Texas-Austin

https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR39277.v3

Version V3 ()

  • V3 [2026-05-18]
  • V2 [2025-06-17] unpublished
  • V1 [2024-12-10] unpublished
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Summary

This multi-method study seeks to understand both the factors that contribute to harm reduction workers' occupational stress and those that mitigate it by pursuing the following aims:

Aim 1:

  • Understanding occupational stressors and resilience strategies among this population by using semi-structured qualitative focus groups with leaders and workers in harm reduction organizations within Texas.

Aim 2:

  • Stress First Aid (SFA) consultants utilized the feedback from the Aim 1 Qualitative Focus Groups to adapt the SFA content for harm reduction. The second aim of the study was to hold a 3-day in person train-the-trainer training on the SFA adapted materials for leaders and workers in harm reduction in Texas. The training was facilitated by SFA consultants. The goal of this initial SFA train-the-trainer session was to test the feasibility and acceptability of adapted SFA/HRW materials and develop cadre of team support champions.

Aim 3:

  • A 4-month Field testing of the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of the adapted SFA for leaders and workers in harm reduction. The Field Test included a 2-hour in-person training to introduce SFA concepts and how to use SFA on a day-to-day basis in participant's work life and with coworkers, facilitated by participants in Aim 2 who chose to be champions for the Aim 3 Field Test. Additionally, four virtual monthly learning collaboratives were held as part of the Field Test, designed as monthly touch points to refresh and reinforce the SFA principles and get coaching and feedback around any challenges around using SFA, facilitated by the research study team.
  • Evaluating the adapted SFA materials and intervention. Reaction interviews were conducted with 13 participants to supplement the surveys.

Citation

Creech, Suzannah K. Testing an Occupational Stress Intervention for Harm Reduction Workers in Substance Misuse Settings, Texas, 2024-2025. Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2026-05-18. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR39277.v3

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Funding

United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse (5R61DA059887-02)

Subject Terms

Geographic Coverage

Smallest Geographic Unit

State

Restrictions

Access to these data is restricted. Users interested in obtaining these data must complete a Restricted Data Use Agreement, specify the reason for the request, and obtain IRB approval or notice of exemption for their research.

Distributor(s)

Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research
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Time Period(s)

2024-02-06 -- 2024-03-04 (AIM 1), 2024-08-21 -- 2024-08-23 (AIM 2: Time period of training), 2024-10-01 -- 2025-02-21 (AIM 3: Time period of training and monthly learning collaboratives for 4-months after the training)

Date of Collection

2024-02-06 -- 2024-03-04 (AIM 1), 2024-08-20 -- 2024-08-26 (AIM 2: Pre- and Post-Training surveys), 2025-02-12 -- 2025-02-26 (AIM 3: Qualitative reaction interviews), 2024-09-24 -- 2025-02-21 (AIM 3: Pre-training baseline survey, 2-month and 4-month post-training follow-up surveys)

Data Collection Notes

  1. For more information about this study, please visit the University of Texas at Austin Addiction Research Institute Workforce Development website.
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Study Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand the stressors and strategies used by harm reduction workers. This feedback is to help inform a future Stress First Aid (SFA) model.

Study Design

Focus groups for Harm Reduction Workers (HRWs) and Harm Reduction Organization (HROs) leaders were utilized to gather feedback about Stress First Aid (SFA) trainings, methods, and recruitment strategies.

Sample

Purposive and snowball sampling design.

Time Method

Cross-sectional

Universe

Leaders and workers aged 18 and over, working in harm reduction in Texas with the ability to read and speak in conversational English.

Unit(s) of Observation

Individual

Data Type(s)

Mode of Data Collection

Description of Variables

Questions were focused around five key principles of the SFA model: safety, calm, connect, competence, and confidence. Participants discussed their experiences with and how they practiced self-care regarding each of the SFA principles.

Response Rates

Aim 1:

  • Of the 20 programs contacted, 14 responded (70%). The final sample of 16 focus group participants were recruited from this pool of 14 programs. Among these 14 programs, a link to a screening survey was distributed to program leadership and staff to assess eligibility and find shared availability between prospective participant, of which we received 31 responses. Out of these 31 responses, 19 were eligible, completed demographic forms and were scheduled for a focus group date (61%). The final sample of participants for focus groups was N = 16 (84% of respondents who were scheduled).

Aim 2:

  • The PI invited and enrolled eligible participants from two organizations. Of these organizations, N = 5 participants were eligible, completing demographic forms as part of the pre-training survey, attended the 3-day in person training, and completed a post-training survey. The PI also collected surveys from the research team who was also being trained at the same time N = 7.

Aim 3:

  • Of the estimated 40 workers and leaders making up the field test organization, 35 responded and enrolled in the study (88%). Of the study sample (N = 35), 33 participants completed the baseline survey and demographic forms, 30 completed the brief post-training survey, 28 completed the two-month follow-up survey, and 25 participants completed the four-month follow-up survey. All 26 participants (workers and leaders) who completed both baseline and 2-month follow-up surveys were invited to participate in an optional reaction interview. Among these 26 participants, 16 responded to the email invitations (62%) and 13 agreed to participate (50%). Three declined to participate, 2 were not comfortable and 1 was not available.

Presence of Common Scales

Aim 2:

  • Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM)
  • Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM)
  • Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM)
  • Stress First Aid Knowledge, Confidence, and Beliefs Scale

Aim 3:

  • Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM)
  • Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM)
  • Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM)
  • The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory
  • Stress First Aid Knowledge, Confidence, and Beliefs Scale
  • Use of Stress First Aid Practices Scale
  • Job-Related Affective Well-Being Scale (JAWS)
  • Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale
  • Brief COPE
  • Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES)
  • Mobley, Griffeth, Hand, and Meglino Model
  • NIH Toolbox: Emotional Support, Formational Support Calibrated Items, Informal Support Calibrated Items, and General Self-Efficacy

For more information on the scales, please refer to the documentation and data-related publications.

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Original Release Date

2024-12-10

Version History

2026-05-18 Added data files and study documentation for Aim 2 and 3.

2025-06-17 Added data file and additional study documentation.

2024-12-10 ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:

  • Created variable labels and/or value labels.

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Notes

  • The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public. Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.

  • ICPSR usually offers files in multiple formats for researchers to be able to access data and documentation in formats that work well within their needs. If you have questions about the accessibility of materials distributed by ICPSR or require further assistance, please visit ICPSR’s Accessibility Center.

  • One or more files in this data collection have special restrictions. Restricted data files are not available for direct download from the website; click on the Restricted Data button to learn more.

NAHDAP logo

This study is maintained and distributed by the National Addiction and Health Data Archive Program (NAHDAP). NAHDAP is supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).