title: Improvements in HCV-related Knowledge Among Substance Users on Opioid Agonist Therapy After an Educational Intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lack of knowledge about hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a principal barrier to substance users' engagement into care for the infection. As a step toward their increased engagement into HCV care, the objective of this study was to deliver an HCV-related educational intervention to substance users on opioid agonist therapy and to assess the change in HCV-related knowledge after the intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  We designed a comprehensive and interactive hepatitis C-related educational intervention, composed of two 30 to 60-minute sessions conducted during 2 consecutive weeks. Patients' knowledge about hepatitis C was assessed immediately before and after the intervention using a 7-item questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 110 patients completed both educational sessions. Patients' mean age was 54.7 ± 7.8 years, 58.7% were men, 70.4% African American, and 30% were Hispanic. We observed a significant increase in HCV-related knowledge after completion of the educational intervention. Whereas 65.45% of patients answered 5 or more questions correctly before the intervention, 83.64% had 5 or more questions answered correctly on the posteducational quiz (P < 0.001). Male sex, ever receiving an HCV diagnostic test before the educational intervention, and a higher level of HCV knowledge on the preeducational quiz were found to be significantly associated with HCV-related knowledge after the educational intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients' knowledge about hepatitis C was found to be significantly improved after the educational intervention. Therefore, HCV-related education could be the first step toward effective enrollment of patients on opioid agonist therapy into hepatitis C care.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY (MZ, AHT); START Treatment & Recovery Centers, Brooklyn, NY (RZ, SK, CS, LSB, AHT); Department of Biostatistics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY (RBD, YC); and Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY (RBD, AHT).
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeremski
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zavala
authors.forename: Rositsa B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Dimova
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kritz
authors.forename: Clewert
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sylvester
authors.forename: Lawrence S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Andrew H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Talal
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055030:Drug Users / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid