ResearchProjects

Hepatitis Care Coordination in Methadone Treatment
Funded by: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Project dates: September 2006 - May 2012
Principal Investigator: Perlman, David
Co-Investigator: Des Jarlais, Don
PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Intravenous drug users have extremely high rates of viral hepatitis including hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV), and hepatitis C (HCV). Although medical treatment of HCV has improved considerably, drug users experience significant barriers to prevention and care services. Integrating hepatitis prevention and health care services into drug abuse treatment programs may increase engagement in and adherence to increasingly effective medical care. This study examined the effectiveness of a strategy of HIV and Hepatitis Care Coordination consisting of testing, education, counseling and vaccination for methadone maintenance patients compared with standard Testing, Education, and Counseling.  This Care Coordination model may fill the gaps in the continuum of hepatitis care for drug treatment programs by facilitating testing and by promoting linkages to HCV clinical evaluations for HCV care and treatment. Findings from this study will be of immense value to health policy planners and will inform the implementation of initiatives to improve hepatitis services targeted to drug users.

Abstract on NIH RePORTER
Related Publications
Schackman BR, Gutkind S, Morgan JR, Leff JA, Behrends CN, Delucchi KL, McKnight C, Perlman DC, Masson CL, Linas BP (2018).
Cost-effectiveness of hepatitis C screening and treatment linkage intervention in US methadone maintenance treatment programs
Drug and Alcohol Dependence PMC5889754. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.11.031.

McKnight C, Shumway M, Masson CL, Pouget ER, Jordan AE, Des Jarlais DC, Sorensen JL, Perlman DC (2017).
Perceived discrimination among racial and ethnic minority drug users and the association with health care utilization
Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 16 (4), 404-419. doi: 10.1080/15332640.2017.1292418. PMCID: PMC6155481.

Perlman DC, Des Jarlais DC, Feelemyer J (2015).
Can HIV and HCV infection be eliminated among persons who inject drugs?
Journal of Addictive Diseases, 34 (2-3), 198-205. doi: 10.1080/10550887.2015.1059111. PMCID: PMC4550554.

Larios SE, Masson CL, Shopshire MS, Hettema J, Jordan AE, McKnight C, Young C, Khalili M, Seewald RM, Min A, Hengl N, Sorensen JL, Des Jarlais DC, Perlman DC (2014).
Education and counseling in the methadone treatment setting improves knowledge of viral hepatitis
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 46 (4), 528-531. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2013.10.012. PMCID: PMC4019752.

Perlman DC, Jordan AE, McKnight C, Young C, Delucchi KL, Sorensen JL, Des Jarlais DC, Masson CL (2014).
Viral hepatitis among drug users in methadone maintenance: Associated factors, vaccination outcomes, and interventions
Journal of Addictive Diseases, 33 (4), 322-331. doi: 10.1080/10550887.2014.969623. PMCID: PMC4275379.

Dhingra L, Masson C, Perlman DC, Seewald RM, Katz J, McKnight C, Homel P, Wald E, Jordan AE, Young C, Portenoy RK (2013).
Epidemiology of pain among outpatients in methadone maintenance treatment programs
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 128 (1-2), 161-165. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.08.003. PMCID: PMC3546120.

Jordan AE, Masson CL, Mateu-Gelabert P, McKnight C, Pepper N, Bouche K, Guzman L, Kletter E, Seewald RM, Des Jarlais DC, Sorensen JL, Perlman DC (2013).
Perceptions of drug users regarding hepatitis C screening and care: A qualitative study
Harm Reduction Journal, 10, 10. doi: 10.1186/1477-7517-10-10. PMCID: PMC3695813.

Masson CL, Delucchi KL, McKnight C, Hettema J, Khalili M, Min A, Jordan AE, Pepper N, Hall J, Hengl NS, Young C, Shopshire MS, Manuel J K, Coffin L, Hammer H, Shapiro B, Seewald RM, Bodenheimer HC, Sorensen JL, Des Jarlais DC, Perlman DC (2013).
A randomized trial of a hepatitis care coordination model in methadone maintenance treatment
American Journal of Public Health, 103 (10), e81-e88. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301458. PMCID: PMC3853128.

Coffin LS, Newberry A, Hagan H, Cleland CM, Des Jarlais DC, Perlman DC (2010).
Syphilis in drug users in low and middle income countries
International Journal of Drug Policy, 21 (1), 20-27. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2009.02.008. PMCID: PMC2790553.