Stress First Aid for substance use outreach workers

Impact of Stress First Aid for Workers in Substance Misuse Settings

Not applicable Interventional University of Texas at Austin · NCT07177014

This project will test whether an adapted Stress First Aid program helps substance use outreach workers in TX, LA, AR, OK, NM, and tribal areas feel more supported and less burned out compared with no treatment.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment500 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 100 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Texas at Austin Academic / other
Locations1 site (Austin, Texas)
Trial IDNCT07177014 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a cluster-randomized hybrid type I trial comparing an adapted Stress First Aid (SFA) training to a no-treatment control among organizations that do substance use outreach. The SFA content was tailored using focus groups and a pilot field test (N = 35) during an R61 planning phase, and those findings guided the R33 trial protocol. Primary outcomes include worker-perceived social support and burnout, measured at the individual level while randomization occurs at the organization level. The design also examines implementation factors relevant to delivering SFA in community outreach settings.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal participants are paid or volunteer substance use outreach or community outreach workers aged 18 or older who provide services to people who use drugs in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, or tribal areas and can give informed consent.

Not a fit: People who do not do substance use outreach, are located outside the listed states or tribal areas, or are unable to provide informed consent would not be eligible and therefore would not receive benefit from this trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce burnout and turnover among outreach workers and improve their capacity to provide safer, higher-quality care to people who use drugs.

How similar studies have performed: Stress First Aid has shown promise in first responder and healthcare groups and was piloted with outreach workers (N = 35), but rigorous randomized evidence in substance use outreach settings is limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* At least 18 years of age
* In a paid or volunteer role as a substance use outreach worker or community health/outreach worker (whose work includes substance use outreach) with people who use drugs within TX, LA, AR, OK, NM and tribal areas
* Able and willing to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

\- Inability to provide consent

Where this trial is running

Austin, Texas

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Occupational HealthStress First AidPersons who use drugsoverdose preventioncommunity outreach workerssubstance use outreach workers
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.