THRIVE: peer-led health promotion after hospital discharge to help people who use drugs
Official title: THRIVE: Teaching Health promotion and Resilience in Varied Environments: a peer-led intervention following hospital discharge
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11394500 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A peer-led program delivered after hospital discharge to help people who use drugs reduce health risks and improve behaviors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $748,854 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA057633-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394500 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
PWUD who recently had an acute medical issue and are being discharged from hospital or ED.
✕Less likely to help
PWUD not engaged with post-discharge care or those unwilling to participate in a 12-week program.
What this research studies
This project aims to tailor a peer-led health promotion bundle called THRIVE for people who use drugs (PWUD) after an acute hospital or emergency department visit. It uses a face-to-face session with follow-up through weekly texts and online content over 12 weeks, guided by behavior-change theories. The team will work with people with lived experience to adapt the program to real hospital and ED settings and test whether it changes risky behaviors and health outcomes. The study will measure feasibility, acceptance, and impact on health behaviors and risk reduction in PWUD. The ultimate goal is to integrate a practical, patient-centered approach into acute care to prevent future harm.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, PWUD could experience fewer health risks and hospital readmissions after discharge.
How similar studies have gone: Previous similar initiatives show that peer-led, theory-informed health promotion can be acceptable and feasible in health systems, with varying degrees of impact.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wilson, Jacqueline Deanna — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Wilson, Jacqueline Deanna
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.