DOI: 10.3886/icpsr38161.v1
title: Fentanyl Risk Communication, Boston, Massachusetts, 2018-2019
title: Version 1

description: This study uses qualitative interviews to describe experiences with and preferences for risk communication among three different groups: 1) People 18-25 years old who report using fentanyl, 2) those 35 years old and older who report using fentanyl, and 3) clinicians and community health workers in outpatient-based addiction treatment or harm reduction programs. Within each group, equal numbers of women and men were interviewed to explore age and gender differences in perceptions and preferences.
description: The purpose of the study is to explore experiences of and preferences for communication related to fentanyl-related overdose risk among people who use fentanyl (PWUF) and health care providers who work in clinical outpatient settings or community health programs. The researchers were particularly interested in any gender and age cohort differences in risk communication preferences among PWUF and used a purposive sampling strategy to investigate.
description: The study used a single-site, cross-sectional design, collecting data with in-depth individual interviews. Interviews with people who use fentanyl were conducted in person and lasted between 40-60 minutes. Participants received $50 as compensation. Interviews with providers were conducted in person or by phone and lasted between 30-60 minutes. Providers received $75 compensation. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Themes covered in the interview guide were drawn from a risk communication framework. Guides were semi-structured and pilot tested with volunteer community health workers, research staff, and practicing clinicians prior to implementation. A grounded analysis approach was used to identify major themes. The research team used NVivo to facilitate data management and analysis. Two research team members independently coded each transcript, relying on group consensus in case of discrepancies.
description: Interviews with people who use fentanyl covered fentanyl risk communication experiences (including emotional and behavioral impact of recommendations), preferences for overdose risk communications, current and preferred harm reduction practices, and concerns about overdose risk in relation to other concerns. Interviews with providers covered current communication practices about fentanyl and overdose risks, barriers/facilitators to effective communication, and strategies to improve fentanyl-related risk communication.
description: Response Rates: In the subgroup of people who use fentanyl, 36 participants completed screening. Seven participants did not show for the interview, four did not meet sampling criteria, and four did not meet inclusion criteria. The final count was 21 participants in this group.
description: The researchers used a purposive sampling strategy to target three groups in the Boston area: people who use fentanyl (PWUF) aged 18 to 25, PWUF aged 35 and older, and health care providers in outpatient-based addiction treatment or community prevention programs. Additional inclusion criteria were having reported illicit fentanyl use within the last year and being an English speaker. Age groups were chosen using a purposive maximum variation approach while reflecting CDC age-based groupings. Balanced numbers of men and women were represented in each age group. To recruit providers, the researchers emailed interview invitations. To recruit PWUF, the researchers posted flyers in community overdose prevention settings (e.g. syringe services), a large primary care clinic that provides office-based addiction treatment, and a substance use clinic providing services to young adults who use drugs. Providers also provided patient referrals. The researchers anticipated enrolling 30 individuals in the study. However, as one cohort was closed to enrollment, an additional person was eligible and the researchers chose to enroll them. The final sample size was 31 total; 10 PWUF aged 18 to 25, 11 PWUF aged 35 and older, and 10 providers.
description: Datasets: DS0: Study-Level Files DS1: Interview Data for People Who Use Fentanyl (PWUF), Age 18 to 25 DS2: Interview Data for People Who Use Fentanyl (PWUF), Age 35 and Over DS3: Interview Data for Health Care Providers
description: People who use fentanyl: individuals a) ages 18-25 or 35 and older, English-speaking, and reported using fentanyl-containing opioids in the last 12 months, living in the Boston area. Providers: any clinical or community provider treating people for addiction in an outpatient setting or a community program within the Boston area..
description: face-to-face interview; telephone interviewThis study is part of the Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) Qualitative Data Sharing (QDS) project.ICPSR has zipped the 31 interview transcripts into three qualitative data packages, separated by study sub-sample. These packages are available for restricted download. Please refer to the ICPSR README documents for more information.