Research By Us, For Us: Violence Prevention Professional Researchers Lead Measure Development for HVIPs

Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) address intervention and prevention of community-based interpersonal violence. HVIPs employ Violence Prevention Professionals (VPPs) as first responders to the hospital bedside for patients who present with injuries resulting from community-based interpersonal violence, including firearm injury, stab wounds, and assault. Despite the growing presence of HVIPs in the U.S., the model lacks process and outcome measures to gauge program fidelity and effectiveness. This study utilized a research team of predominantly VPP researchers to conduct key informant interviews with 3 key groups of participants engaged with a regional HVIP, including clients (n = 7), VPPs (n = 9), and healthcare collaborators (n = 8). Analysis of interview data produced 6 overarching themes, including 3 process-based themes: (1) establish the relationship with the hospital site(s) and clients; (2) foundational client engagement; (3) The Work, and 3 outcome-based themes: (1) transition from relationship to partnership; (2) ongoing commitment; (3) The Change that span hospital- to community-based care. Further, the team identified 4 foundational programmatic goals of the HVIP: (1) inspire positive personal change, (2) reduce engagement in violence and other high-risk activity, 3) reduce risk of reinjury and justice system involvement, and (4) reignite young people as beacons of hope. The 6 process-and outcome-related themes and the 4 foundational programmatic goals produced a conceptual framework for the HVIP and a logic model that maps with the conceptual framework. These elements can guide evaluation of HVIP fidelity and effectiveness. Future work can explore the application of these measures at other sites to build the evidence base of the HVIP models in violence intervention and prevention of community-based interpersonal violence, as well as further define the role HVIPs play within the CVI ecosystem.