Strategies for Addressing Needle Debris: Scoping Review Protocol
Date
2022-08
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Abstract
Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to explore the literature about needle debris associated with drug use in a community setting. Introduction: Needle debris in the community poses a public health concern. Needle debris and discarded drug paraphernalia could contribute to perceived social disorder associated with harm reduction services, like supervised consumption sites. Discarded needles represent a public safety risk for both people who use drugs and other community members. Currently, the existing research on this topic is scattered and has yet to be consolidated and reviewed. Addressing needle debris may decrease perceived community impact from harm reduction services, and increase support for these services among area residents, business owners, and others. This scoping review will be undertaken to inform a program of research around needle debris, to review available literature on the topic. Inclusion criteria: Studies that focus on strategies to address needle debris will be included, when referring to discarded needles and drug paraphernalia in the community. Exclusion criteria include strategies for people who use needles, who may generate needle waste inside homes and private property. Needle exchange programs and supervised consumption sites will be excluded when their primary purpose is to provide sterile supplies to prevent HIV/Hepatitis C transmission, and prevent and manage drug poisonings and overdoses, rather than prevent needles being discarded in the community. Methods: This scoping review protocol was established following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines for developing a protocol (Peters et al., 2022). The databases that will be searched are MEDLINE(R) and Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process, In-Data-Review & Other Non-Indexed Citations and Daily (Ovid), CINAHL Plus with Full Text (EBSCO), APA PsycInfo (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), and Social Services Abstracts (ProQuest). The search will be conducted using subject headings and relevant keywords identified from analyzing seed articles. Studies will be limited to the English language. Data extraction will be completed using articles identified from the search that have substantial discussion on needle debris and the concept of disposal, retrieval, collection, prevention, and/or education. For a more comprehensive search, hand searching of reference lists and citation tracing will also be included. The proposed scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews (Peters et al., 2020).
Description
Protocol for scoping review
Keywords
disposal program, needle debris, scoping review, harm reduction
Citation
Tung, M., Jackson, J., Ferreira, C., Hayden, K. A., & Ens, T. (2022). Strategies for Addressing Needle Debris: Scoping Review Protocol [Protocol]. University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.