A trial to reduce hepatitis C seroincidence in drug users.
To test whether a four-session motivational intervention would reduce hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroincidence among injection and non-injection drug users compared to an assessment-only condition, we performed a randomized 24-month clinical trial. At baseline, 277 participants reported using heroin or cocaine at least three times weekly were HCV antibody negative, 65% were male and 46% were Caucasian and 39% reported having injected drugs. Of the 15 (5.4%) individuals who seroconverted, all reported injecting drugs either at baseline or during follow-up. Seroconversion rates did not differ significantly by treatment assignment (p =.79). The annual HCV incident rate was 8.20 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.76-14.13) for injectors and 0.74 (95% CI = 0.19-2.98) for non-injectors per 100 person-years. Significantly fewer participants in the intervention group initiated injection drug use behaviors (p =.009). This intervention was no more effective at reducing HCV seroconversion than assessment alone but did decrease injection initiation.
Stein
Michael D
MD
General Research Medicine, Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Boulevard, Providence, RI 02906, USA. Michael_Stein@brown.edu
Herman
Debra S
DS
Anderson
Bradley J
BJ
D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000517:prevention & control; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000821:virology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies