Improvement and implementation of an integrated evaluation and monitoring systemin harm reduction (RDD) services associated with drug use

Harm reduction (RDD) is a crucial approach to the phenomenon of drug use. In Spain, this approach has received significant attention and implementation, albeit with major territorial differences. In addition, RDD is applied in very diverse fields and sub-fields and with widely varying methodologies, making it a field that is difficult to define, monitor and evaluate. 

In this regard, it should be noted that in current research it is difficult to find a standardised system shared by several administrations and/or organisations that would allow their data to be integrated for better monitoring. On the contrary, there is an enormous dispersion of procedures, questionnaires and systems which, moreover, tend to focus on process data but rarely address effectiveness in terms of a measurable reduction in the harm caused. 

For all these reasons, and thanks to funding obtained from European funds (Next Generation EU) through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan of the Government of Spain, this project was created with the aim of developing an integrated, computerised and optimised diagnosis, evaluation and monitoring system for this type of service, which aspires to become one of the information and evaluation standards in this field. 

The target population of this project is the entire clinical population of the harm reduction services managed by FSC in three autonomous communities: Catalonia, the Valencian Community and Madrid. This amounts to approximately 5.000 adults per year who benefit from harm reduction services associated with drug use. The services involved are mainly the care services managed by FSC, which can be viewed here. 

The phases of this project (2023/24) are: 

Phase 1. Literature review and definition of the most relevant variables to be monitored (health, social, quality of life, drug use…) 

Phase 2. Design and computerisation of the data collection system for evaluation. 

Phase 3. Usability testing and error correction. 

In its final phase, the project will carry out usability tests of the system with a selection of centres in order to detect errors and correct system faults or make improvements, all with the aim of adapting the tools to the services, thus putting technology at the service of professionals and service users. 

In addition, at a later stage it is expected that other organisations will be able to adopt the system developed if they so wish, so that the potential beneficiary population would become everyone served by this type of service providing intensive psychosocial treatment (therapeutic communities, day centres, reintegration flats, rehabilitation programmes in prisons…).