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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 Dec 4;19(12):e0308965.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308965. eCollection 2024.

Stigma and efficacy beliefs regarding opioid use disorder treatment and naloxone in communities participating in the HEALing Communities Study intervention

Nicky Lewis  1 , Barry Eggleston  2 , Redonna K Chandler  3 , Dawn Goddard-Eckrich  4 , Jamie E Luster  5 , Dacia D Beard  6 , Emma Rodgers  4 , Rouba Chahine  2 , Philip M Westgate  1 , Shoshana N Benjamin  4 , JaNae Holloway  2 , Thomas Clarke  3 , R Craig Lefebvre  2 , Michael D Stein  6 , Donald W Helme  1 , Jennifer Reynolds  7 , Sharon L Walsh  1 , Darcy Freedman  5 , Nabila El-Bassel  4 , Kara Stephens  7 , Anita Silwal  1 , Michelle Lofwall  1 , Janet E Childerhose  5 , Hilary L Surratt  1 , Brooke N Crockett  5 , Amy L Farmer  5 , James L David  4 , Laura Fanucchi  1 , Judy Harness  5 , Ben Wilburn  7 , Kelli Bursey  7 , Kristin Mattson  7 , Sarah Mann  5 , Rebecca D Jackson  5 , Aimee Shadwick  8 , Katherine Calver  9 , Deborah Chassler  9 , Jennifer Kimball  9 , Nancy Regan  9 , Jeffrey H Samet  9 , Rachel Sword-Cruz  9 , Michael D Slater  5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Stigma and efficacy beliefs regarding opioid use disorder treatment and naloxone in communities participating in the HEALing Communities Study intervention

Nicky Lewis et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: The HEALing Communities Study (HCS) included health campaigns as part of a community-engaged intervention to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths in 67 highly impacted communities across Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio. Five campaigns were developed with community input to provide information on opioid use disorder (OUD) and overdose prevention, reduce stigma, and build demand for evidence-based practices (EBPs). An evaluation examined the recognition of campaign messages about naloxone and whether stigma and efficacy beliefs regarding OUD treatment and naloxone changed in HCS intervention communities.

Methods: Data were collected through surveys offered on Facebook/Instagram to members of communities participating in the HCS intervention and wait-list control communities.

Results: Participants in HCS intervention communities reported a reduction in stigma regarding OUD and increased efficacy beliefs regarding naloxone associated with recognition of campaign messages. However, this finding is cautiously interpreted as there was no clear evidence for recognition differences between the treatment/control conditions.

Conclusion: Study findings indicate associations between campaign message recognition and positive outcomes. Results also highlight possible challenges concerning evaluations of social media campaigns using conventional evaluation techniques.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04111939.

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Conflict of interest statement

I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: Michelle Lofwall has served as a scientific consultant for Berkshire Biomedical, Braeburn, Journey Colab, and Titan Pharmaceuticals in the last three years. This does not alter our adherence to all PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

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