Patients at a drug detoxification center share perspectives on how to increase hepatitis C treatment uptake: A qualitative study.
Drug Alcohol Depend
; 220: 108526, 2021 03 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33465604
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The US opioid crisis is associated with a surge in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among persons who inject drugs (PWID), and yet the uptake of HCV curative therapy among PWID is low.PURPOSE:
To explore potential solutions to overcome barriers to HCV treatment uptake among individuals at a drug detoxification center.METHODS:
Qualitative study with in-depth interviews and thematic analysis of coded data.RESULTS:
Patients (N = 24) had the following characteristics mean age 37 years; 67 % White, 13 % Black, 8 % Latinx, 4 % Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 8 % other; 71 % with a history of injecting drugs. Most patients with a positive HCV test had not pursued treatment due to few perceived immediate consequences from a positive test and possible complications arising in a distant poorly imagined future. Active substance use was a major barrier to HCV treatment uptake because of disruptions to routine activities. In addition, re-infection after treatment was perceived as inevitable. Patients had suggestions to improve HCV treatment uptake high-intensity wraparound care characterized by frequent interactions with supportive services; same-day/walk-in options; low-barrier access to substance use treatment; assistance with navigating the health care system; attention to immediate needs, such as housing; and the opportunity to select an approach that best fits individual circumstances.CONCLUSIONS:
Active substance use was a major barrier to treatment initiation. To improve uptake, affected individuals recommended that HCV treatment be integrated within substance use treatment programs. Such a model should incorporate patient education within low-barrier, high-intensity wraparound care, tailored to patients' needs and priorities.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Substance Abuse, Intravenous
/
Hepatitis C
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Aspects:
Implementation_research
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Drug Alcohol Depend
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article