1. Hepatitis C in Intravenous Drug Users: Study of Obstacles and Facilitators to Access to Health Care and Services
- Author
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Foley, Petit GI, Giraud MJ, Boisvert K, Rietmann MH, and Brousselle A
- Subjects
- Focus Groups, Hepatitis C, Chronic psychology, Humans, Quebec, Attitude to Health, Health Services Accessibility, Health Status Disparities, Hepatitis C, Chronic complications, Substance Abuse, Intravenous complications
- Abstract
Objective: The study was designed to document the experiences of people affected by hepatitis C with respect to prevention, screening and treatment to more clearly understand the determinants of health trajectories and access to the health system.Methods: Based on an evaluative research, we conducted a thematic qualitative analysis of four focus group interviews with people affected by hepatitis C. Two interviews (n = 3) consisted of people at risk of contracting hepatitis C, the third interview (n = 6) concerned people diagnosed HCV positive but not treated and the fourth interview (n = 6) targeted people who had access to treatment (n = 6).Results: We identified the drivers, barriers and facilitating factors, trajectories of health and care of people affected by hepatitis C in two periods of life: from the injection to HCV screening and from HCV diagnosis to treatment. Life trajectories in relation to hepatitis C are the product of many influences: the personal life experience, the attitude of healthcare staff, the organization of the health system and contingent factors.Conclusion: Understanding the life experience of people affected by hepatitis C is essential to identify potential levers of change and new ways to organize the health system in order to more effectively reach these people.
- Published
- 2016