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. 2022 Nov 7;14(11):2463.
doi: 10.3390/v14112463.

Awareness of HCV Status and Preferences for Testing and Treatment among People with Recent Injecting Drug Use at a Peer-Led Needle and Syringe Program: The TEMPO Pilot Study

Anna Conway  1   2 , Phillip Read  1   3 , Rosie Gilliver  3 , Tony McNaughton  4 , Heather Valerio  1 , Evan B Cunningham  1 , Charles Henderson  4 , Brett Hadlow  3 , Katrina Molloy  3 , Anna Doab  3 , Shane Tillakeratne  1 , Lucy Pepolim  4 , Mary Ellen Harrod  4 , Gregory J Dore  1 , Jason Grebely  1
Affiliations

Awareness of HCV Status and Preferences for Testing and Treatment among People with Recent Injecting Drug Use at a Peer-Led Needle and Syringe Program: The TEMPO Pilot Study

Anna Conway et al. Viruses. .

Abstract

Background: New technologies and therapies allow the possibility of a single-visit test and treat model for hepatitis C virus (HCV), addressing some of the barriers to care faced by people who inject drugs.

Methods: The TEMPO Pilot Study was an interventional cohort study evaluating a single-visit test and treat intervention among people with recent injecting drug use at a one peer-led needle and syringe program (NSP) in Sydney, Australia between September 2019 and February 2021. This analysis evaluated awareness of HCV status and agreement of self-report with HCV RNA test results. The analysis also assessed acceptability of: modality of result delivery, modality of blood sampling, site of treatment, and duration of treatment.

Results: Among 101 participants (median age 43; 31% female), 100 had a valid HCV RNA test result and 27% (27/100) were HCV RNA detectable. Overall, 65% (65/100) were aware of their status. Among people with a positive HCV RNA result, 48% (13/27) were aware of their status. People preferred same-day HCV test results (95%, 96/101), and preferred to receive results in person (69%, 70/101). Receiving treatment at an NSP was acceptable (100%, 101/101) and 78% (79/101) were willing to discuss their health with a peer NSP worker.

Conclusion: Half of people with current HCV infection were aware of their status. The high acceptability of simplified testing and treatment pathways delivered at NSPs indicates that this is an appropriate strategy to improve HCV awareness and treatment uptake in this population.

Keywords: DAA; PWID; drug use; hepatitis C; injecting drug users; testing; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

J.G. is a consultant/advisor and has received research grants from Abbvie, Camurus, Cepheid, Gilead Sciences, Hologic, Indivior, and Merck/MSD. GD has received research grants from Abbvie and Gilead Sciences. P.R. has received research grants from Gilead Sciences, and advisory board and speaker fees from Gilead Sciences and Abbvie. R.G. has received speaker fees from Gilead Sciences. A.C., T.M, H.V., E.B.C., C.H., B.H., K.M., A.D., S.T., L.P., M.E.H., have no conflicts of interest.

References

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