TY - JOUR
T1 - Barriers and facilitators to undergoing hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing through drug treatment programs
AU - Strauss, Shiela M.
AU - Munoz-Plaza, Corrine
AU - Tiburcio, Nelson Jose
AU - Astone-Twerell, Janetta
AU - Des Jarlais, Don C.
AU - Gwadz, Marya
AU - Hagan, Holly
AU - Osborne, Andrew
AU - Rosenblum, Andrew
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - Given the high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among drug users, HCV testing is critical in this population. While many drug treatment programs offer HCV testing, patients often do not utilize this essential program-facilitated service. Summarizing data collected in semi-structured interviews and surveys with patients in 25 programs, this paper identifies barriers and facilitators to being tested for HCV through the program. Barriers include the patient's belief that she/he is not HCV infected, fear of needles, fear of obtaining a positive HCV test result, fear of disclosure of such a result, and fear of inappropriate or disrespectful treatment during the testing process. In addition, 38% of HCV sero-unaware or sero-negative patients completing the survey did not know that HCV testing was offered through their programs. Salient facilitators for those tested through their programs include support from staff in explaining the importance of testing and help in understanding and coping with test results.
AB - Given the high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among drug users, HCV testing is critical in this population. While many drug treatment programs offer HCV testing, patients often do not utilize this essential program-facilitated service. Summarizing data collected in semi-structured interviews and surveys with patients in 25 programs, this paper identifies barriers and facilitators to being tested for HCV through the program. Barriers include the patient's belief that she/he is not HCV infected, fear of needles, fear of obtaining a positive HCV test result, fear of disclosure of such a result, and fear of inappropriate or disrespectful treatment during the testing process. In addition, 38% of HCV sero-unaware or sero-negative patients completing the survey did not know that HCV testing was offered through their programs. Salient facilitators for those tested through their programs include support from staff in explaining the importance of testing and help in understanding and coping with test results.
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U2 - 10.1177/002204260803800411
DO - 10.1177/002204260803800411
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:62549147800
SN - 0022-0426
VL - 38
SP - 1161
EP - 1185
JO - Journal of Drug Issues
JF - Journal of Drug Issues
IS - 4
ER -