# Community health worker and family support for addiction treatment services

## TL;DR

This study explores how community health workers and family members can better support addiction treatment through improved confidence, job satisfaction, and family coping strategies.

## Contribution

The study introduces context-specific indicators for measuring support from community health workers and family members in addiction care.

## Key findings

- Community health workers with higher job satisfaction and confidence show stronger support for addiction services.
- Family members with better functioning and coping skills are more supportive of addiction treatment.
- Context-specific indicators improve understanding of support mechanisms in community-based addiction care.

## Abstract

A growing body of research underscores the importance of incorporating family support and community health worker engagement into community-based addiction care. This study developed and applied context-specific indicators tailored to the distinct roles of family members and CHWs in addiction services.

This study utilized baseline data from an ongoing randomized controlled trial conducted in 2024 across 58 communities in Vietnam. Participants included 174 community health workers and 690 family members of people who use drugs. Context-specific support indicators were developed separately for CHWs and family members. Multiple regression analyses were used to identify individual, familial, and work-related factors associated with support for addiction services.

Both the community health worker support and family member support scales demonstrated acceptable reliability. Among community health workers, higher job satisfaction and greater confidence in delivering addiction services were significantly associated with stronger support for addiction care. Among family members, higher levels of family functioning and coping were positively associated with support for addiction services.

Findings highlight the potential of enhancing community health workers’ confidence and job satisfaction, as well as promoting family functioning and coping, as actionable strategies to strengthen addiction service systems and inform future interventions. By utilizing context-specific indicators, this study provides a more nuanced understanding of support mechanisms within community-based addiction care.