THE ROLE OF KNOWLEDGE BROKERS: LESSONS FROM A COMMUNITY BASED RESEARCH STUDY OF CULTURAL SAFETY IN RELATION TO PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS

Authors

  • Jane McCall
  • Ashley Mollison
  • Annette Browne
  • Joanne Parker
  • Bernie Pauly

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33524/cjar.v18i1.320

Abstract

The study explored cultural safety as a strategy to address the stigma of substance use in acute care settings. Two research team members took on the role of knowledge brokers (KBs) in order to liaise between the research team and two distinct research advisory groups: one with people who use drugs and the other nurses. The KBs were instrumental in ensuring that the research process and outcomes reflected the needs, experiences and aspirations of people who use or have used illicit drugs, and the nurses providing care in hospitals as well as bridging differences in power and privilege between team members and advisory groups.

Author Biographies

Jane McCall

Dr. Jane McCall, MSN, RN, is a nurse educator for the HIV/Urban Health Program at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, BC. She has worked with vulnerable populations for 33 years and has a particular interest in trauma, HIV and addiction. Her current research includes a study looking at the prevalence of trauma in the HIV infected population and the relationship between trauma and ART adherence as well as a study examining the experiences and perspectives of patients and staff at Crosstown Clinic, North America’s only clinic providing prescription heroin to addicted patients.

Ashley Mollison

Ashley Mollison, MA, is the program coordinator at the Society of Living Illicit Drug Users, which is a peer run organization for people who use drugs in Victoria. She is particularly interested in research, which is participatory and allows for the integration of people who use drugs into the research process.

Annette Browne

Dr. Annette Browne, RN, is an associate professor at the School of Nursing, University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. Her research focuses on health and health care inequities, with a particular focus on health inequities affecting Indigenous peoples. She conducts research on access to health care, women’s health, cultural safety, and primary health care interventions to improve health outcomes for marginalized populations.

Joanne Parker

Joanne Parker, MA, is a research coordinator with the Critical Research in Health and Health Inequities at the University of British Columbia. She has previously worked with peer run drug user groups and harm reduction organizations in Nova Scotia.

Bernie Pauly

Dr. Bernie Pauly, RN, is an associate professor at the School of Nursing, University of Victoria, as well as a scientist with the Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia in Victoria, BC. Her program of research focuses on the study of public health policies and programs that contribute to improvements in health and reducing health inequities especially in the context of homelessness and substance use.

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Published

2017-10-04

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 1 (2017)

Section

Articles

License

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