Hospital Based Violence Intervention Programs Using Peer Support Specialists: A Concise Review.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Trauma Care
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Interpersonal violence is a major public health issue in the U.S.
• Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) utilize peer support specialists (navigators) to address this problem.
• The effectiveness of HVIPs remains an area of active investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent literature on the effectiveness of HVIPs.
• To specifically examine the role of peer support specialists within these programs.
• To synthesize evidence on HVIP outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search conducted across PubMed, OVID, and Google Scholar.
• Included peer-reviewed studies published between 2017 and 2022.
• Data extraction and analysis performed by author consensus.

Main Results:

• Eight studies met the eligibility criteria from a pool of 232.
• Participating victims in HVIPs experienced a 43% to 95% reduction in recidivism rates.
• Peer support specialists were identified as central to program success.

Conclusions:

• The peer support specialist (navigator) role is integral to the success of HVIPs.
• These programs effectively guide and coordinate health services for victims, extending support post-discharge.
• HVIPs excel at meeting short-term victim needs but face challenges with long-term goals like education or relocation.