Improvements in HCV-related Knowledge Among Substance Users on Opioid Agonist Therapy After an Educational Intervention. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • OBJECTIVES: Lack of knowledge about hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a principal barrier to substance users' engagement into care for the infection. As a step toward their increased engagement into HCV care, the objective of this study was to deliver an HCV-related educational intervention to substance users on opioid agonist therapy and to assess the change in HCV-related knowledge after the intervention. METHODS: We designed a comprehensive and interactive hepatitis C-related educational intervention, composed of two 30 to 60-minute sessions conducted during 2 consecutive weeks. Patients' knowledge about hepatitis C was assessed immediately before and after the intervention using a 7-item questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 110 patients completed both educational sessions. Patients' mean age was 54.7 ± 7.8 years, 58.7% were men, 70.4% African American, and 30% were Hispanic. We observed a significant increase in HCV-related knowledge after completion of the educational intervention. Whereas 65.45% of patients answered 5 or more questions correctly before the intervention, 83.64% had 5 or more questions answered correctly on the posteducational quiz (P < 0.001). Male sex, ever receiving an HCV diagnostic test before the educational intervention, and a higher level of HCV knowledge on the preeducational quiz were found to be significantly associated with HCV-related knowledge after the educational intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Patients' knowledge about hepatitis C was found to be significantly improved after the educational intervention. Therefore, HCV-related education could be the first step toward effective enrollment of patients on opioid agonist therapy into hepatitis C care.

publication date

  • January 1, 2016

Research

keywords

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Drug Users
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Hepatitis C
  • Patient Education as Topic

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84964330288

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000196

PubMed ID

  • 26881485

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 10

issue

  • 2