The Impact of Drug Use on Perceptions of Credibility in Indigenous Outreach Workers

Bibliographic Data

ID4639200
AuthorsShannon Gwin Mitchell (0000-0002-2841-1085, Johns Hopkins University), James A Peterson (0000-0003-0177-8255, Johns Hopkins University), Carl A Latkin (Johns Hopkins University), Carl Latkin (0000-0002-7931-2116, Johns Hopkins University)
Year2006
Volume16
Issue8
Pages1108-1119
Publication date2006-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQualitative Health Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1049-7323 • E-ISSN: 1552-7557
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1049732304273934
PMID16954528
OpenAlexW2122160311
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited25

The authors conducted an investigation of perceptions of outreach worker credibility using the social network members (N = 20) of indigenous outreach workers in an HIV/AIDS prevention intervention. The network members included in the study received semistructured interviews following the program's completion. Outreach workers who were not actively using illicit drugs were more likely to be described as credible than were those who were using drugs. In general, drug use negatively affected perceptions of credibility via damaged trust in the outreach worker's relationship with his or her network member. Results indicate the complexity of using indigenous drug users as outreach workers, the potential negative perceptions concerning hypocritical behavior, and the need to evaluate social interventions from the standpoint of indirect participants

Credibility · Family medicine · Indigenous · Medical education · Outreach · Perception · Political science · Psychological intervention · Community Health and Development · Homelessness and Social Issues · Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Social Work