Health workers' support for hepatitis C treatment uptake among clients with a history of injecting. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brener, Loren; von Hippel, Courtney; Wilson, Hannah; Hopwood, Max
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 23:Number 8(2018)
• Page Start: 1012
• Page End: 1018
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: discrimination -- health workers -- hepatitis C -- injecting drug use -- stigma -- treatment; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105316642002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus is stigmatised because of its association with injecting drug use. Although treatment is available, uptake remains low, especially among people who inject drugs. Ninety health workers completed a survey assessing attitudes towards people who inject drugs and support for treatment for three client scenarios: one who stopped injecting, one on methadone, and one continuing to inject. Support for hepatitis C virus treatment was significantly higher, where the client was not injecting. Participants who showed more negative attitudes towards people who inject drugs were less supportive of clients entering hepatitis C virus treatment, illustrating the influence of health workers' attitudes in determining treatment options offered to clients.