Hepatitis C treatment uptake and adherence among injecting drug users in the Czech Republic
Jazyk angličtina Země Česko Médium print
Typ dokumentu časopisecké články, práce podpořená grantem
PubMed
25523218
PII: 50669
Knihovny.cz E-zdroje
- MeSH
- adherence pacienta * MeSH
- antivirové látky terapeutické užití MeSH
- hepatitida C farmakoterapie epidemiologie etiologie psychologie MeSH
- intravenózní abúzus drog komplikace MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- pacienti psychologie MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- uživatelé drog statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika epidemiologie MeSH
- Názvy látek
- antivirové látky MeSH
BACKGROUND: Injecting drug users (IDUs) represent a major subpopulation of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected people in developed countries. Yet their uptake to treatment is generally low despite well-documented effectiveness of HCV treatment among former and active IDUs. The present study represents the first attempt to describe the HCV treatment coverage among IDUs and identify factors that affect treatment uptake in the Czech Republic. METHODS: From January to March 2011, a questionnaire survey was conducted among viral hepatitis treatment centres in the Czech Republic. RESULTS: From a total of 76 identified hepatitis treatment centres existing in the country, 39 provided HCV treatment to (mainly former or abstaining) IDUs in 2010. Most clinicians reported being cautious in initiating HCV treatment in IDUs. Abstinence, a screening phase before treatment initiation, opioid substitution treatment and an external evaluation by a specialist were often prerequisites for skrting treatment. However, HCV treatment centres rarely provided drug-use specific services. Financial constraints were also reported, further limiting the inclusion of IDUs into treatment, as non-users are widely preferred to active drug users. Clinicians reported no difference in treatment uptake and adherence between drug users and non-users, nor between opioid and methamphetamine users. CONCLUSION: A number of system- and provider-related factors limit HCV treatment in IDUs in the Czech Republic, despite permissive national clinical guidelines. Targeting these factors is crucial to reduce HCV prevalence at population level.