Peer-Led Heart Failure Screening Program for Rural Methamphetamine Users
A new trial protocol uses community peer workers and BNP testing to screen for methamphetamine-associated heart failure in rural Oregon, linked to telemedicine cardiology.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Study protocol describes a peer-led BNP screening plus telecardiology intervention designed to detect methamphetamine-associated heart failure in rural communities.
Key Numbers
How They Did This
Hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation trial protocol with peer-assisted point-of-care BNP screening and telecardiology follow-up.
Why This Research Matters
MAHF is increasingly prevalent but under-detected in rural areas. Peer-led community screening could bridge the gap between at-risk populations and specialist care.
The Bigger Picture
This represents an innovative model for reaching underserved populations with screening for serious conditions, combining community trust-building with modern telemedicine capabilities.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Study protocol only — no efficacy or feasibility results yet; rural Oregon context may not generalize to all settings.
Questions This Raises
- ?Will peer-led screening achieve adequate sensitivity and specificity for MAHF detection?
- ?Can this model be replicated in other rural or underserved communities?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Peer-led BNP screening Novel approach to detect heart failure in hard-to-reach rural methamphetamine-using populations
- Evidence Grade:
- Study protocol — describes planned research methodology but contains no outcome data yet.
- Study Age:
- Published 2026. Protocol for a planned trial.
- Original Title:
- Rural community peer partnerships for improving methamphetamine -associated heart failure screening and engagement in cardiology care (PEER-Heart): Study protocol.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence reports, 18, 100411 (2026)
- Authors:
- Alias-Ferri, Maria, Kersey, Cooper B, Shalen, Evan F, Cook, Ryan, Gregoire, Devin, Hoffman, Kim, Beam, Michelle, Levander, Ximena A, Pertl, Kellie, Stensby, Alexis, Gonzales, Paul, Smith, Shanna, Evernden, Tabetha, Longenecker, Chris T, Korthuis, P Todd, Chan, Brian
- Database ID:
- RPEP-14743
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is BNP testing?
Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a blood marker that rises when the heart is under strain. A simple point-of-care blood test can detect elevated BNP levels, signaling possible heart failure.
Why use peer workers instead of nurses for screening?
Peer workers who share lived experience with substance use can build trust with people who distrust traditional healthcare, improving screening engagement in hard-to-reach populations.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Related articles coming soon.
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-14743APA
Alias-Ferri, Maria; Kersey, Cooper B; Shalen, Evan F; Cook, Ryan; Gregoire, Devin; Hoffman, Kim; Beam, Michelle; Levander, Ximena A; Pertl, Kellie; Stensby, Alexis; Gonzales, Paul; Smith, Shanna; Evernden, Tabetha; Longenecker, Chris T; Korthuis, P Todd; Chan, Brian. (2026). Rural community peer partnerships for improving methamphetamine -associated heart failure screening and engagement in cardiology care (PEER-Heart): Study protocol.. Drug and alcohol dependence reports, 18, 100411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2026.100411
MLA
Alias-Ferri, Maria, et al. "Rural community peer partnerships for improving methamphetamine -associated heart failure screening and engagement in cardiology care (PEER-Heart): Study protocol.." Drug and alcohol dependence reports, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2026.100411
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Rural community peer partnerships for improving methamphetam..." RPEP-14743. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/alias-ferri-2026-rural-community-peer-partnerships
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.