The WHO ASSIST Phase IV(2008-2011)
The WHO ASSIST Phase IV project is aimed at developing effective and sustainable models of ASSIST-based interventions which are capable of producing tangible benefits to public health and social welfare.
The project has the following objectives:
- To support implementation and evaluation of ASSIST-based interventions in a wide variety of countries, language groups, health care systems and social care settings.
- To compare different models of implementation of ASSIST-based interventions in health care systems.
- To develop further WHO ASSIST package in order to facilitate integration of screening, brief interventions and referral procedures for psychoactive substance use and related disorders into health care and social services
- Identify ways and models of implementation and dissemination of ASSIST-based interventions in health care and social welfare systems
- Further development of the WHO ASSIST package
- Strengthening evidence base for ASSIST-based interventions
The project main components are:
- Dissemination, implementation and evaluation of ASSIST-based interventions in different settings and contexts
The additional components are:
- Development supporting training packages
- Further development of the WHO ASSIST screening instrument
- Brief version
- Revised paper and pencil version
- Self-administered pen and pencil version
- Computerized version
- Web-based version
- Testing and, if necessary, adaptation to different settings and populations
- Different language versions
- Research: strengthening evidence base for ASSIST-based interventions
- International dissemination of ASSIST-based interventions
The potential settings and context in which to disseminate, implement and evaluate ASSIST-based interventions are:
- Primary health care
- STI clinics (outpatient)
- HIV programs
- Student health services (above legal age)
- Mental health services
- Programs of opioids agonist treatment for opioid dependence
- Other services for substance use disorders
- Social welfare system
- Criminal justice system (e.g. in prisons, community-based correctional services)
- Emergency rooms and trauma centers
The project requirements for dissemination and implementation are:
- Pre-implementation assessment to define:
- Readiness
- Settings
- Assessment of prevalence of substance use
- Implementation team
- Partners and alliance building
- Required resources
- Technical support from consultants as appropriate
- Development of Phase IV implementation plan in each site
- Review of the plan by the WHO ASSIST Phase IV Steering Committee
- Support from WHO and other sources
- Training
- Implementation
