Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Canterbury, 2007. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references ([399]-463). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [42]-49).

Thesis (M.S.W.) - Carleton University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 86-88). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Legitimate and underground needle exchange programs, specifically targeted for intravenous drug users (IVDUs) (i.e., currently the second largest risk group in the AIDS epidemic), have emerged in various locales in a desperate attempt to change their drug use practices and behaviors associated with the transmission of HIV-1/AIDS. This study focuses on one such program, the Tacoma-Pierce County Needle Exchange Program, in which the pioneering efforts of a private individual are provided, the manifestations of public entrepreneurism are examined, and in which various attributes of program acceptance are identified and explored. An introductory and exploratory case study approach is the research strategy used in this dissertation, since it is adaptive and flexible to accommodate the use of multiple data sources. Data have been collected through semi-structured interviews involving four law enforcement personnel and 21 program clients (i.e., IVDUs), which consisted of open-and close-ended questions regarding program acceptance. Existing data sources, such as court documents, published interviews with key officials, journals, and various news articles provide an assessment of the events and activities that relate to the evolution and success of the Tacoma-Pierce County Needle Exchange Program. The attributes identified and explored in this study include: settings, type of staff, method of service delivery (including spillover effects), nature of the geographic area, concern over the effects of AIDS, external environmental conduits (the informal communication network and the media), and characteristics of program clients. These attributes were found to be important to program acceptance of the Tacoma-Pierce County Needle Exchange Program; however, they should be further examined in other communities to see if they remain important. To this extent, the findings indicated that needle exchange programs have complex characteristics attached to them, and that they deserve to be further studied to understand those complexities. Other benefits of the Tacoma-Pierce County Needle Exchange Program found to be important include: (1) fewer citizen complaints about the carelessly discarded, used syringes often found in gutters, parks, greenbelts, alleys, and streets; and (2) fewer reports of infections caused by accidental needle stick injuries among law enforcement personnel (which can occur when a law enforcement officer frisks a suspect), maintenance employees, and grounds-keepers. Overall, phenomenal savings can accrue from such unintentional and additional benefits of needle exchange programs. In light of this debilitating disease, and of the high cost associated with medical care, such innovative interventions are perceived worthy in the course of this deadly epidemic.

Background: Drug use is a public health problem associated with increased mortality, morbidity and lack of contact with healthcare. Stigmatization and discrimination surround drug use. Harm reduction aims to improve health without coercive measures to become drug-free in collaboration with people who inject drugs. Harm reduction is evidence-based, cost-effective and reduces the spread of infectious diseases. Needle exchanges provide information about drug-related risks and offer protection against this.  Aim: The aim was to describe experiences of harm reduction in needle exchanges in people who inject drugs.  Method: A qualitative literature study was carried out according to Polit and Beck's nine-step model. 11 articles were included and analyzed thematically according to the model of Braun and Clarke.  Results: The main finding is that people who inject drugs experience that needle exchanges offer knowledge and enable harm reduction. Needle exchanges are a place of health promotion for people who inject drugs.  Conclusion: How people who inject drugs experience the services and what makes them return is important knowledge for harm reduction to reach more people. Continued research is needed on how needle exchanges can reach more people who inject drugs. / Bakgrund: Drogbruk är ett folkhälsoproblem förenat med ökad dödlighet, sjuklighet och bristande kontakt med hälso- och sjukvård. Stigmatisering och diskriminering omgärdar drogbruk. Skadereduktion syftar till att förbättra hälsan utan tvingande åtgärder rörande drogfrihet. Skadereduktion är evidensbaserat, kostnadseffektivt och minskar spridningen av smittsamma sjukdomar. Sprututbyten ger information om drogrelaterade risker och erbjuder skydd mot dessa.  Syftet: Att beskriva erfarenheter av skadereduktion vid sprututbyten hos personer som injicerar droger. Metod: En kvalitativ litteraturstudie enligt Polit och Becks niostegsmodell. Elva artiklar inkluderades och analyserades tematiskt enligt modell av Braun och Clarke. Resultat: Huvudfynd är att personer som injicerar droger upplever att sprututbyten erbjuder kunskap och möjliggör skadereduktion. Sprututbyten är en plats för hälsopromotion för personer som injicerar droger.  Slutsats: Hur personer som injicerar droger upplever erbjuden skadereduktion vid sprututbyten och vad som får dem att återkomma är betydelsefull kunskap för att skadereduktion ska nå fler. Fortsatt forskning behövs om hur sprututbyten kan nå fler personer som injicerar droger.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects up to 45,000 people in Sweden today. Although it is a very treatable disease, the prevalence of HCV is extremely high within the population of people who inject drugs (PWID). This study examines the direct effect of needle exchange programs (NEPs) on HCV rates in Sweden. Previous research has shown that NEPs reduce the transmission of other blood-borne diseases among PWID. Using an interrupted time series (ITS) analysis, this study investigates if there are statistically significant differences between HCV rates in Swedish counties before and after the implementation of NEPs. The study also investigates via linear regression to see if there is a relationship between sterile injecting equipment (needles and syringes) dispensed and HCV rates in the counties where NEPs exist. While there has been a steady decrease in HCV rates across the country as a whole, the ITS analyses show no statistically significant differences in HCV rates due to the opening of NEPs. Because of the relatively recent introduction of NEPs in Sweden, more data points post-intervention may be needed before we can truly see the effect they have on regional HCV rates. There is also no relationship between the number of needles and syringes dispensed and county HCV rates. However, Sweden falls far short of the 300 syringes/needles per user per year recommendation of the World Health Organization at this time. Standardized data collection and further research can help answer these questions more clearly.

Research questions were: 1: Will Drug Injectors Use An Exchange In A StateWhere Syringes Are Legal? 2: Will Drug Injectors Using An Exchange Decrease Risky Behavior? 3: Will Frequent Clients Change Risk Behaviors More Than Infrequent Clients? 4: Will Drug Injectors Using An Exchange Change Risk Behaviors More Than A Comparison Group Not Using An Exchange? 5: Does An Exchange Have An Impact On The Number Of Discarded Syringes On The Streets? 6: Is There A Difference In The Rate Of Spread Of HIV Infection Among Users And Non-Users Of The Exchange. Drug injectors will use needle exchange programs, even in a state where syringes are legal. During the first four years, nearly 2,000 drug injectors made approximately 16,000 visits to the Exchange. Clients of the Exchange reduced risky behavior from intake to six months. Change lasted over time: at twelve months, change in behaviors continued to be significant. Frequent users of the Exchange were better on two variables than infrequent users: they borrowed syringes less, and were less likely to use a syringe and throw it away. Drug injectors using the Exchange were compared to those not using the Exchange, but using a bleach/outreach project. Clients of both projects reduced risky behaviors, with Exchange clients better on two variables: re-using syringes without cleaning, and throwing away used syringes. The two projects attracted different drug injectors, and should be viewed as complementary rather than competing AIDS prevention strategies. The impact of the Exchange on the community was evaluated by the change in the number of discarded syringes found on the streets. The number of syringes found per month decreased from 5.14 before the Exchange opened to 1.9 after it began -- a significant side benefit. The data presented here support the growing evidence that needle exchange programs produce behavioral risk reductions, and that the number of potentially infected syringes in public places can be reduced.

Bakgrund Personer som injicerar droger uppsöker vården mindre frekvent än övriga befolkningen men löper ökad risk för ohälsa utifrån olika riskbeteenden såsom att dela injektionsmaterial och bruka olagliga substanser. Ohälsa som uppkommer kopplat till injicering av droger orsakar lidande hos individen samt stora kostnader för sjukvården. Förmåga att ta hand om egenvård påverkar möjligheten att bibehålla hälsa och inkluderas i samhället. Syfte Att utforska hur egenvård uppfattas av personer som injicerar droger samt vilket behov av vård dessa personer ger uttryck för. Metod Kvalitativ intervjustudie med explorativ ansats. Semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med 12 personer som besökte sprututbytesmottagningen vid Karolinska universitetssjukhuset i Stockholm. Intervjuerna analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat Analysen resulterade i tre kategorier: Önskan om att bibehålla hälsa trots substansbrukssyndrom, Behov av specifik kompetens och personcentrerad vård och Behov av specifik vård och säkra miljöer. I kategorin Önskan om att bibehålla hälsa trots substansbrukssyndrom beskrivs att egenvård uppfattas som att använda droger säkert och att i övrigt upprätthålla en god fysik och psykisk hälsa. I kategorin Behov av specifik kompetens och personcentrerad vård framkom att specifik omvårdnadskompetens och kunskap om substansbrukssyndrom inom hälso- och sjukvården efterfrågas. I kategorin behov av Specifik vård och säkra miljöer beskrivs att personer som injicerar droger efterfrågar tillgång till vård anpassad efter de specifika behov och hälsorisker som droganvändning medför.  Slutsats Egenvård uppfattas som att bibehålla hälsa genom att injicera droger på ett säkert sätt, minska riskbeteende samt att undvika att exkluderas från samhället genom att ta hand om utseende, hygien och sträva mot en meningsfull vardag. Respondenterna uttrycker behov av personcentrerad vård, värdigt bemötande samt kompetens avseende droganvändande hos vårdpersonal. En personlig och kontinuerlig kontakt ses som essentiellt för att förbättra upplevelsen av vård hos denna målgrupp. / Background People who inject drugs are less able to access healthcare than the general population, but are at increased risk of illness related to risk behaviors such as sharing injection equipment and use of illegal substances. Illness caused by injection drug use is related to individual suffering as well as increased health care costs. The ability to perform self-care affects the ability to maintain health and being included in society. Aim The aim was to explore how self-care is percieved by people who inject drugs, as well as the needs of healthcare expressed by these individuals.  Method Qualitative interview study with explorative design. Semi structured interviews were conducted with 12 people visiting a needle exchange clinic at the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. The interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Results The analysis resulted in three categories: A wish to maintain good health despite substance use disorder, Need for specific competence and patient-centered care and Need for specific care and safe environments. The category A wish to maintain good health despite substance use disorder showed that self-care was perceived as using drugs in a safe way and to maintain a good physical and mental health overall. The category Need for specific competence and patient-centered care describes a wish for specific nursing skills and increased knowledge of substances use disorders within the health care system. The category Need for specific care and safe environments demonstrate that people who inject drugs are requesting access to healthcare adjusted to their specific needs and health risks. Conclusions The respondents perceive self-care as maintaining health by injecting drugs safely, reduce risk behavior and avoid being excluded from society by caring for appearance, hygiene and striving for a meaningful life. The respondents in this study express the need for person-centered care, dignified treatment and drug use expertise within the health care system. An individual and continuous contact at the needle exchange clinic is essential to improve the experience of health care for these individuals.

No description available.

Introduction: Malgré des taux d’efficacité comparable du traitement antiviral de l’hépatite C (VHC) entre utilisateurs de drogues par injection (UDIs) et non-UDIs, il y a encore d’importantes barrières à l’accessibilité au traitement pour cette population vulnérable. La méfiance des UDIs à l’égard des autorités médicales, ainsi que leur mode de vie souvent désorganisé ont un impact sur l’initiation du traitement. L’objectif de cette étude est d’examiner les liens entre l’initiation du traitement du VHC et l’utilisation des services de santé chez les UDIs actifs. Methode: 758 UDIs actifs et séropositifs aux anticorps anti-VHC ont été interrogés durant la période de novembre 2004 à mars 2011, dans la région de Montréal. Des questionnaires administrés par des intervieweurs ont fourni des informations sur les caractéristiques socio-économiques, ainsi que sur les variables relatives à l’usage de drogues et à l’utilisation des services de santé. Des échantillons sanguins ont été prélevés et testés pour les anticorps anti-VHC. Une régression logistique multivariée a permis de générer des associations entre les facteurs relatifs aux services de santé et l’initiation du traitement contre le VHC. Resultats: Parmi les 758 sujets, 55 (7,3%) avaient initié un traitement du VHC avant leur inclusion dans l’étude. Selon les analyses multivariées, les variables significativement associées à l’initiation du traitement sont les suivantes: avoir vu un médecin de famille dans les derniers 6 mois (Ratio de Cote ajusté (RCa): 1,96; Intervalle de Confiance à 95% (IC): 1,04-3,69); plus de 2 ans sous traitement de la dépendance à vie, sans usage actuel de méthadone (RCa: 2,25; IC: 1,12-4,51); plus de 2 ans sous traitement de la dépendance à vie, avec usage actuel de méthadone (RCa: 3,78; IC: 1,85-7,71); et avoir déjà séjourné en prison (RCa: 0,44; IC: 0,22-0,87). Conclusion: L’exposition à des services d’aide à la dépendance et aux services médicaux est associée à l’initiation du traitement du VHC. Ces résultats suggèrent que ces services jouent leur rôle de point d’entrée au traitement. Alternativement, les UDIs ayant initié un traitement du VHC, auraient possiblement adopté une attitude proactive quant à l'amélioration de leur santé globale. D’autre part, l’incarcération ressort comme un obstacle à la gestion de l’infection au VHC. / Introduction: In spite of comparable hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment efficacy between injection drug users (IDUs) and non-IDUs, there are still important barriers impeding antiviral treatment access in this vulnerable population. Mistrust between IDUs and health care providers, along with IDU disorganised lifestyle, affect HCV treatment uptake. The objective of this study is to examine the association between HCV treatment initiation and the use of healthcare services among active IDUs. Methodology: 758 active IDUs, seropositive for anti-HCV antibody, were surveyed from November 2004 to March 2011 in Montreal. Interviewer-administered questionnaires elicited information on socio-demographic factors, drug use related behaviors and health care service utilization. Blood samples were collected and tested for HCV antibodies. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the health service correlates of HCV treatment initiation. Results: Among the 758 subjects, 55 (7.3%) had initiated an HCV treatment prior to enrolment. In multivariate analysis, variables independently associated with treatment initiation included: having seen a general practitioner in the last 6 months (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR): 1,96; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1,04-3,69); more than 2 years of lifetime addiction treatment exposure without current methadone use (aOR: 2,25; CI: 1,12-4,51); more than 2 years of lifetime addiction treatment exposure with current methadone use (aOR: 3,78; CI: 1,85-7,71); and having spent time in prison (aOR: 0,44; CI: 0,22-0,87). Conclusion: Exposure to addiction and medical services is associated with HCV treatment initiation. These results suggest that such services efficiently play their role as entry points for HCV treatment. Alternatively, IDU who have initiated HCV treatment, regardless of the viral response outcome, may have adopted a proactive stance towards improving their overall health. Incarceration on the other hand seems to be an obstacle to HCV treatment uptake.