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Abstract
Objective: The aim was to investigate hepatitis C virus (HCV) knowledge and alcohol consumption among patients (n = 114) in a methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinic in Shanghai. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in an MMT clinic. Structured questionnaires (HCV Knowledge Scale and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)) and some open-ended questions were used to assess (i) HCV knowledge, (ii) HCV treatment received, (iii) awareness of HCV status, and (iv) alcohol consumption. Results: Findings revealed the HCV-positive rate was 57.0%. There were significant gaps in knowledge about HCV and HCV treatment received. The group mean score of HCV knowledge was 11.3 out of 20 (SD = 2.1) and the mean score on the AUDIT was 3.2 (SD = 5.4). Most participants (68.4%) reported not knowing their HCV status. Among HCV-positive participants, only 15.3% had received HCV antivirus treatment and 18.4% expressed a need for counseling about HCV infection. Conclusions: Considering the limited HCV knowledge and low level of HCV treatment received, effective HCV education and intervention strategies should be developed to target patients in China’s MMT clinics. Moreover, alcohol screening should also be part of the routine assessments within MMT programs. Scientific Significance: This study reveals the importance of HCV testing and education among drug users in MMT clinics.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work was supported by grants from Shanghai Health Bureau (2008093) and US National Institute of Health (R01DA027195) to Dr. Jiang Du. The US National Institute of Health (R01TW00727) to Dr. Min Zhao.
Declaration of Interest
The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.
