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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Shiela M. Strauss, PhD¹, Janetta Astone-Twerell, PhD¹, Corrine E. Munoz-Plaza, MPH¹, Don Des Jarlais, PhD², Marya Gwadz, PhD³, Holly Hagan, PhD³, Andrew Osborne, MS⁴, and Andrew Rosenblum, PhD⁵. (1) Institute for Treatment and Services Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23 Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10010, 1.212.845.4409, strauss@ndri.org, (2) Chemical Dependency Institute, Beth Israel Medical Center, First Avenue at 16th Street, New York, NY 10003, (3) Institute for AIDS Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23 Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10010, (4) NDRI Training Institute, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23rd Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10010, (5) Institute for Treatment and Services Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23 Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10010

In spite of the extremely high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among drug users, clients in drug treatment programs often lack information about the virus. Using data collected from clients in two drug free residential (N=40) and two methadone maintenance treatment programs (MMTPs; N=40) in NYC, we compare the extent to which clients in these two treatment modalities were aware of opportunities and actually participated in HCV education sessions, and their reasons for not participating. While 72% of the clients were aware that HCV group education was offered, only 51% of these clients participated in the group sessions. In addition, although 46% of the clients in the residential drug free programs and 80% of those in the MMTPs were aware that individually tailored education about HCV was available to them (p=.002), only a fraction of these clients used this service (38% and 62%, respectively; p=.041). When asked to rate on a scale from 1 to 10 why they didn't make use of these education services, clients in drug free programs, significantly more than those in MMTPs, indicated that the person that provided the education knew too little about HCV (5.4 vs. 2.3; p<.001), or used words that were hard to understand (4.2 vs. 3.3; p=.002). To support the HCV education needs of their clients, staff in both treatment modalities – but especially those in drug free residential programs - need to learn more about HCV and how to effectively communicate with clients about the virus.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe the extent to which clients in drug treatment programs are aware of and make use of group education sessions concerning HCV offered at the programs.
• Describe the extent to which clients in drug treatment programs are aware of and make use of individually tailored education about HCV offered at the programs.
• Discuss 2 reasons why clients may not use HCV education services offered at the programs.

Keywords: Hepatitis C, Drug Abuse Treatment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation