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.
General Research Medicine, Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Boulevard, Providence, RI 02906, USA. Michael_Stein@brown.edu
Michael D
MD
Stein
Debra S
DS
Herman
Bradley J
BJ
Anderson
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