Attitudes towards Hepatitis C and Treatment Willingness in Injection Drug Users: A Follow-up Interview Study

Abstract

Many injection drug users are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), yet few are treated. With opiate maintenance treatment, expected life length increases, and the incitement increases to treat HCV in order to avoid long term complications. The aim of the present study was to investigate attitudes towards HCV and HCV treatment willingness among opiate-dependent injection drug users at Malmö needle exchange program, through interviews just before entering opiate maintenance treatment and after 6 months in opiate maintenance treatment. Heroin-dependent injection drug users were recruited from Malmö needle exchange program October 2011 -April 2013. They had a structured baseline interview (N=83), led by social workers. After 6 months, all patients who successfully entered opiate maintenance treatment and were still enrolled (N=56) had a follow-up interview. Correlations with treatment willingness were calculated using Pearson's Chi-Square test. Change over time was determined by McNemar Test. A majority at both baseline and follow-up wanted more information about HCV, but HCV-positive subjects did not feel affected by their HCV status. No significant change in treatment willingness was found after 6 month in opiate maintenance treatment, neither were any factors significantly associated with treatment willingness found. We conclude that there is need for inclusion of more information about and easy referral to HCV therapy as part of opiate maintenance treatment.