Spillover effects of HIV testing policies: changes in HIV testing guidelines and HCV testing practices in drug treatment programs in the United States

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has reached epidemic proportions among drug users, and drug programs are in a unique position to provide each of their patients with HCV education. Using a nationwide sample ( N = 434) of drug treatment programs, we report the results of a logistic regression analysis that differentiates programs providing HCV education to all of their patients versus programs that do not. Fifty-four percent of the programs provide HCV education to all of their patients. Programs are about four and a half times as likely to provide HCV education to all patients if they dispense methadone; almost four times as likely to provide this service if they educate most of their staff about HCV; twice as likely if they are residential; and almost twice as likely if they conduct HIV testing on-site. Our findings indicate that there is a need to increase HCV educational services in drug treatment programs.

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HIV testing practices among black primary care physicians in the United States

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/1471-2458-13-96 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Eric Y Wong ◽

Wilbert C Jordan ◽

David J Malebranche ◽

Lori L DeLaitsch ◽

Rebecca Abravanel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Primary Care ◽

Hiv Testing ◽

Primary Care Physicians ◽

The United States ◽

Testing Practices

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Barriers and Facilitators to Undergoing Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Testing through Drug Treatment Programs

Journal of Drug Issues ◽

10.1177/002204260803800411 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 38 (4) ◽

pp. 1161-1185 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Shiela M. Strauss ◽

Corrine Munoz-Plaza ◽

Nelson Jose Tiburcio ◽

Janetta Astone-Twerell ◽

Don C. Des Jarlais ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis C Virus ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

Drug Treatment ◽

Drug Users ◽

Barriers And Facilitators ◽

Treatment Programs ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Drug Treatment Programs ◽

And Coping ◽

Hcv Testing

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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