title: Hepatitis C knowledge and alcohol consumption among patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment in Shanghai, China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to investigate hepatitis C virus (HCV) knowledge and alcohol consumption among patients (n = 114) in a methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinic in Shanghai.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was carried out in an MMT clinic. Structured questionnaires (HCV Knowledge Scale and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)) and some open-ended questions were used to assess (i) HCV knowledge, (ii) HCV treatment received, (iii) awareness of HCV status, and (iv) alcohol consumption.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings revealed the HCV-positive rate was 57.0%. There were significant gaps in knowledge about HCV and HCV treatment received. The group mean score of HCV knowledge was 11.3 out of 20 (SD = 2.1) and the mean score on the AUDIT was 3.2 (SD = 5.4). Most participants (68.4%) reported not knowing their HCV status. Among HCV-positive participants, only 15.3% had received HCV antivirus treatment and 18.4% expressed a need for counseling about HCV infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the limited HCV knowledge and low level of HCV treatment received, effective HCV education and intervention strategies should be developed to target patients in China's MMT clinics. Moreover, alcohol screening should also be part of the routine assessments within MMT programs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reveals the importance of HCV testing and education among drug users in MMT clinics.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, PR China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D060046:Maintenance Chemotherapy; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D019562:Viral Load / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone