Peer recovery coaching for comprehensive HIV, hepatitis C, and opioid use disorder management: The CHORUS pilot study

Anna K Martin; Tyshaun Perryman; Judith A Bernstein; Jessica L Taylor; Ricardo Cruz; Jordana Muroff; Jeffrey H Samet; Sabrina A Assoumou

doi:10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100156

Peer recovery coaching for comprehensive HIV, hepatitis C, and opioid use disorder management: The CHORUS pilot study

Drug Alcohol Depend Rep. 2023 Apr 5:7:100156. doi: 10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100156. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Authors

Anna K Martin^{1

2}, Tyshaun Perryman², Judith A Bernstein³, Jessica L Taylor^{1

4}, Ricardo Cruz¹, Jordana Muroff⁵, Jeffrey H Samet^{1

3}, Sabrina A Assoumou²

Affiliations

¹ Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center and Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.
² Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States.
³ Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.
⁴ Grayken Center for Addiction, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States.
⁵ Boston University School of Social Work, Boston, MA, United States.

Abstract

Introduction: Amidst a surge in HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in persons who use drugs, medications that effectively prevent HIV and treat opioid use disorder and HCV remain underutilized.

Methods: We developed a 6-month peer recovery coaching intervention (brief motivational interviewing followed by weekly virtual or in-person coaching) and collected data on uptake of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and HCV treatment. The primary outcomes were intervention acceptability and feasibility.

Results: At a Boston substance use disorder bridge clinic, we enrolled 31 HIV-negative patients who used opioids. Participants reported high intervention satisfaction at 6 months (95% "satisfied" or "very satisfied"). At study completion, 48% of the participants were on MOUD, 43% who met CDC guidelines were on PrEP, and 22% with HCV were engaged with treatment.

Conclusions: A peer recovery coaching intervention is feasible and acceptable, with positive preliminary findings regarding MOUD, PrEP and HCV treatment uptake.

Keywords: HIV; Hepatitis C; Opioid use disorder; Peer recovery coach; Peer support; PrEP.

Abstract

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