Perceived benefits of the hepatitis C peer educators: a qualitative investigation
Autor: | L. Cockerham-Colas, Deena Peyser, S. P. Reynoso, Irene Soloway, Abigail W. Batchelder, Alain H. Litwin |
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Rok vydání: | 2017 |
Předmět: |
Program evaluation
Male Methadone maintenance 030508 substance abuse Medicine (miscellaneous) Stigma (botany) Peer Group 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Nursing Patient Education as Topic medicine Humans 030212 general & internal medicine Social work business.industry lcsh:Public aspects of medicine Research Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health virus diseases lcsh:RA1-1270 Peer group Peer educator Middle Aged Opioid-Related Disorders Hepatitis C digestive system diseases 3. Good health Treatment Psychiatry and Mental health Health psychology Evaluation Studies as Topic Female New York City 0305 other medical science business Peer Attitude to Health Peer education Methadone medicine.drug Program Evaluation |
Zdroj: | Harm Reduction Journal Harm Reduction Journal, Vol 14, Iss 1, Pp 1-7 (2017) |
ISSN: | 1477-7517 |
Popis: | Background Although opioid-dependent patients are disproportionately impacted by hepatitis C (HCV), many do not receive treatment. In addition to HCV treatment-access barriers, substance-using patients may be reluctant to pursue treatment because of wariness of the medical system, lack of knowledge, or stigma related to HCV treatment. Implementation of a formal peer education program is one model of reducing provider- and patient-level barriers to HCV treatment, by enhancing mutual trust and reducing stigma. Methods We used thematic qualitative analysis to explore how 30 HCV patients and peer educators perceived a HCV peer program within an established methadone maintenance program in the USA. Results Participants unanimously described the program as beneficial. Participants described the peer educators’ normalization and dispelling of myths and fears around HCV treatment, and their exemplification of HCV treatment success, and reductions in perceived stigma. Peer educators described personal benefits. Conclusions These findings indicate that HCV peer educators can enhance HCV treatment initiation and engagement within opioid substitution programs. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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