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; Phillip Read; Rosie Gilliver; Tony McNaughton; Heather Valerio; Evan B Cunningham; Charles Henderson; Brett Hadlow; Katrina Molloy; Anna Doab; Shane Tillakeratne; Lucy Pepolim; Mary Ellen Harrod; Gregory J Dore; Jason Grebely

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

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

Authors

Anna Conway^{1

2}, Phillip Read^{1

3}, Rosie Gilliver³, Tony McNaughton⁴, Heather Valerio¹, Evan B Cunningham¹, Charles Henderson⁴, Brett Hadlow³, Katrina Molloy³, Anna Doab³, Shane Tillakeratne¹, Lucy Pepolim⁴, Mary Ellen Harrod⁴, Gregory J Dore¹, Jason Grebely¹

Affiliations

¹ The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney 2052, Australia.
² Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney 2052, Australia.
³ Kirketon Road Centre, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney 2010, Australia.
⁴ NSW Users and AIDS Association, Sydney 2010, Australia.

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.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Cohort Studies
Female
Hepacivirus / genetics
Hepatitis C* / diagnosis
Hepatitis C* / drug therapy
Hepatitis C* / epidemiology
Humans
Male
Pilot Projects
RNA, Viral
Substance Abuse, Intravenous* / complications
Substance-Related Disorders*
Syringes

Substances

RNA, Viral

Grants and funding

This study was supported through a seed grant from the Maridulu Budyari Gumal Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE) Triple I Clinical Academic Group. This study was also supported by research grants from Gilead Sciences Pty Ltd. and Cepheid (provided GeneXpert platforms and testing). Gilead Sciences and Cepheid were not involved in the study design, methodology, and writing of this manuscript. The opinions expressed in the paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Gilead Sciences. The Kirby Institute is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the position of the Australian Government. JG is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant (1176131). GD is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant (2008276). NUAA is supported by the NSW Ministry of Health with additional project specific funding provided by the Kirby Institute.