Project 175572

The objective of the proposed research is to study the process of implementation of a program of addiction/mental health intervention into primary health care settings. The research sites include three health clinics in Montreal administered by the Centre de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CSSS) de la Montagne. The program entitled "Treating Substance Dependence and Mental Illness: Tools for the Front Line Practitioner" was designed by the staff of the Addictions Unit at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) to facilitate the screening, assessment and treatment of clients with addictions and comorbid mental illness by front line practitioners. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, the research will determine the conditions that favor the process of knowledge translation from specialty to front line services and will involve an examination of the systemic barriers to knowledge uptake. In addition, the effectiveness of the intervention program as administered in primary care sites will be determined using a pre-post design with monitoring of outcomes in terms of the changes in health care service delivery and outcomes for patients.