Factors associated with interest in initiating treatment for hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection among young HCV-infected injection drug users.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to identify factors associated with interest in receiving therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among HCV-infected injection drug users (IDUs) in 3 United States cities.


METHODS
IDUs aged 18-35 years who were HCV-infected and seronegative for human immunodeficiency virus underwent surveys on behaviors, experience, and interest in treatment for HCV infection and readiness to quit drug use.


RESULTS
Among treatment-naive IDUs (n=216), 81.5% were interested in treatment for HCV infection, but only 27.3% had seen a health-care provider since receiving a diagnosis of HCV infection. Interest in treatment for HCV infection was greater among IDUs with a high perceived threat of progressive liver disease, those with a usual source of care, those without evidence of alcohol dependence, and those with higher readiness scores for quitting drug use. Interest in treatment for HCV infection was 7-fold higher among IDUs who were told by their health-care provider that they were at risk for cirrhosis or liver cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Improving provider-patient communication and integrating treatments for substance abuse and HCV may increase the proportion of IDUs who initiate treatment for HCV infection.
Strathdee
Steffanie A
SA
Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Division of International Health and Cross-Cultural Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, USA. sstrathdee@ucsd.edu
Latka
M
M
Campbell
J
J
O'Driscoll
P T
PT
Golub
E T
ET
Kapadia
F
F
Pollini
R A
RA
Garfein
R S
RS
Thomas
D L
DL
Hagan
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D018579:Patient Selection; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012737:Sex Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology