Assessment of a Hepatitis Educational Group for Veterans with Substance Use Disorders

Abstract

Background: In 2005 the substance use disorders (SUD) clinic at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center launched the Liver Health Initiative in an effort to improve hepatitis education, screening, prevention, and treatment referral services for veterans receiving SUD services. One component of the Liver Health Initiative is an hour-long educational group; the Healthy Liver Group. Objectives: After the Healthy Liver Group was firmly established, an evaluation took place in order to measure: 1) change in patient knowledge, 2) participant satisfaction, and 3) attitudes toward hepatitis A and B vaccinations. Methods: From August 2007 to May 2008, 102 veterans filled out a paper survey before and after their experience in the Healthy Liver Group. Significance and Conclusions: The results of this survey show an increase in basic knowledge of hepatitis, high levels of patient satisfaction, and strong acceptance of vaccinations for hepatitis A and B. Overall, the survey indicates that the Healthy Liver Group is providing an important service and is generally well accepted by patients.

Keywords :

• Hepatitis C infections
• hepatitis services
• implementation
• satisfaction
• substance abuse treatment programs
• vaccinations

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by the Health Services Research Division of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. We thank the VHA HCRC Program and the QUERI Program for supporting the Liver Health Initiative. We greatly appreciate Paul Thuras, Ph.D., for his assistance in the data analysis of the survey. We thank Debra Dingmann, R.N., for her ongoing dedication to the success of the Healthy Liver Group.