Asian Nurs Res.  2022 Dec;16(5):256-264. 10.1016/j.anr.2022.10.001.

Roles and Effects of Peer Recovery Coach Intervention in the Field of Substance Abuse: An Integrative Literature Review

• Kang KI
• Kang CM

• KMID: 2538353
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.anr.2022.10.001

Abstract

Purpose
There are ongoing public initiatives to help substance abusers by involving peer recovery coaches (PRCs) in the field of substance abuse worldwide. This study examines the contents and delivery methods of PRC intervention programs and their effects from the participants' standpoint.
Methods
An integrative literature search was conducted in seven electronic databases using English and Korean search terms. Two researchers independently reviewed the extracted papers and rated their quality based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in the selection of nine papers.
Results
Research on PRC participation in substance abuse treatment were predominantly US-based, and all articles derived were quantitative studies. The main roles of PRCs included liaising between treatment and community resources, assisting with stress management and coping skills, counseling and case management, and recovery and recurrence prevention education. In addition, the PRC-delivered intervention was tested with various outcome variables. It reduced participants' substance use and enhanced their treatment adherence rates, self-efficacy, quality of life, and stress control.
Conclusions
This study confirmed the need to extend existing studies by testing the effects of PRCdelivered intervention through multidisciplinary efforts in more regions and establishing PRCs' role definition and concretization. The results of this study will serve as significant basic data in developing and applying for nursing intervention programs with PRCs in clinical and community nursing settings in the future.

Keyword

Substance-related disorders; Mental health recovery; Psychosocial intervention