A Mobile Health Intervention to Improve Hepatitis C Outcomes Among People With Opioid Use Disorder: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

• DOI: 10.2196/12620
• Publication Date: 2019-06-18T04:46:48Z
• Authors: Karli R Hochstatter; David H Gustafson Sr; Gina Landucci; Klaren Pe-Romashko; Adam Maus; Dhavan V Shah; Quinton A Taylor; Emma K Gill; Rebecca Miller; Sarah Krechel; Ryan P Westergaard
• Keywords: Hepatitis C

People who inject drugs are at a disproportionate risk for contracting hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, use of HCV prevention and treatment services remains suboptimal among people with substance disorders due to various health system, societal, individual barriers. Mobile applications offer promising strategies support in recovery from disorders. We sought determine whether the Addiction-Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (A-CHESS), an existing mobile application opioid disorder, could be adapted improve screening treatment.The goals this paper describe: (1) components functionality intervention incorporated into A-CHESS system; (2) how data collected will used evaluate testing, linkage care, treatment.People recent were enrolled randomized controlled trial test reduced relapse. developed implemented content within platform simultaneously improved secondary outcomes related care. All users received content, which includes educational information, private messages tailored individual's stage public discussion forum. Data on patients' behaviors care through quarterly telephone interviews weekly surveys delivered A-CHESS. The proportion disorder untested, HCV-negative, antibody-positive, or RNA-positive, as well linked treated cured baseline is described here. 24-month follow-up ongoing completed April 2020. Survey then assess individuals HCV-enhanced more likely reduce risky injection behaviors, receive link medical initiate treatment, compared control group.Between 2016 2018, 416 interview. Of these individuals, 207 randomly assigned arm 209 arm. At baseline, 202 (49%) self-reported ever testing antibody-positive. those, 179 (89%) reported receiving RNA confirmatory 134 (66%) tested 125 (62%) 27 (13%) HCV. remaining 214 had never 129 (31%) antibody-negative past year 85 (20%) not been year.The system allows implementation bundle collection longitudinal drug This study provide preliminary evidence HCV-specific embedded program can engaged addiction treatment.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02712034; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02712034.DERR1-10.2196/12620.