Knowledge and Attitudes about Treatment for Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Barriers to Treatment among Current Injection Drug Users in Australia

Despite recent improvements in outcomes of treatment for infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV), very few current injection drug users (IDUs) have access to treatment programs. We examined the natural history of and treatment knowledge about HCV infection and barriers and willingness to seek treatme...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical infectious diseases 2005-04, Vol.40 (Supplement-5), p.S313-S320
Main Authors: Doab, Anna, Treloar, Carla, Dore, Gregory J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Australia
Biological and medical sciences
Biopsies
Chronic hepatitis
Demography
Drug addictions
Drug dependence
Drug use
Female
Focus Groups
Genotypes
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Services Accessibility
Hepacivirus
Hepatitis C - etiology
Hepatitis C - psychology
Hepatitis C - therapy
Hepatitis C virus
Human viral diseases
Humans
Infections
Infectious diseases
Injections
Interviews as Topic
Liver
Liver Diseases - complications
Liver Diseases - therapy
Male
Medical sciences
Medical treatment
Methadone
Natural history
Pathology
Pilot Projects
Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications
Substance Abuse, Intravenous - psychology
Toxicology
Treatment Outcome
Viral diseases
Viral diseases of the digestive system
Viral hepatitis
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Description
Summary:Despite recent improvements in outcomes of treatment for infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV), very few current injection drug users (IDUs) have access to treatment programs. We examined the natural history of and treatment knowledge about HCV infection and barriers and willingness to seek treatment for HCV infection. A convenience sample of current IDUs (n = 100) with self-reported HCV-positive status drawn from a primary health facility and methadone clinic in inner Sydney completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Participants had a reasonable knowledge of the natural history of HCV infection but poorer knowledge of treatment for HCV infection. Most believed that being a current IDU was an exclusion criterion for treatment. Despite this, 70%–80% of IDUs reported that they would consider treatment under current scenarios in Australia: requirement for liver biopsy, subcutaneous injections, common adverse effects, and 40% efficacy. Study participants at the methadone clinic had higher levels of consideration of treatment. These findings support the development of specific education programs regarding treatment for HCV infection for current IDUs.
ISSN:1058-4838
1537-6591
DOI:10.1086/427446