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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2019, 21, N3 (pages: 47 - 51)

Difficulties in Initiating Hepatitis C Treatment in Patients with Opioid Use Disorder: Patient's Perspective

Palma-Alvarez R.F., Ros-Cucurull E., Grau-López L., Martínez-Luna N., Rodríguez-Cintas L., Álvarez A.I., and Roncero C.

Summary: Introduction: The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is highly prevalent in intravenous drug users, however HCV treatment is scarce in them and there are difficulties to start it within this population. Aim: To explore the difficulties to initiate a HCV treatment from the perspective of the patient who goes to an outpatient drug addiction treatment center. Methods: A self-administered Ad Hoc questionnaire was designed to assess the reasons why the patient would not perform a treatment for HCV, then this questionnaire was administered to patients with opioid use disorder who were in an outpatient center for drug treatment. Results: 56 patients were assessed (82,1% men, 44,09 ± 8,33 years), 80,9% had a history of intravenous drug use and 76.4% had HCV. The most frequent reasons for not performing a HCV treatment were related to false beliefs and lack of information about the treatment itself. However, 72% would be interested in carrying it out. Conclusion: Given the false beliefs detected, educational interventions about the treatment of HCV in intravenous drug users should be performed.