Reducing Health Problems Associated With Injection Drug Use

University of Northern Colorado

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intravenous Drug Abuse

HIV Infections

Treatments

Other: No intervention - assessment-only condition

Behavioral: Skin and Needle Hygiene Intervention

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT01128920

DA026773-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to develop and test an intervention to reduce bacterial and viral infections among injection drug users.

Full description

Injection drug use (IDU) is a major public health problem that is associated with a host of medical complications, including blood-borne viral disease (e.g., HIV, Hepatitis C) and bacterial infections (e.g., skin abscesses, endocarditis), that often result from high-risk drug injection practices. There are no current interventions designed to reduce bacterial infections among IDUs, despite high rates of infection.

The objective of this study is to develop and test the efficacy of a skin and needle hygiene intervention for IDUs to reduce practices associated with bacterial and viral infections. In the first phase of the study, focus group interviews were conducted to determine key areas of emphasis for an intervention with this population. An initial intervention was developed, pilot tested, and refined. The final 2-session intervention combines psychoeducation, skill-building, and motivational interviewing.

Following refinement of the intervention, a small randomized controlled trial (n = 60; 30 in each group) to examine the efficacy of the intervention compared to an assessment-only condition will be conducted. The goals of this two-year study are to: 1) reduce high-risk injection practices among active IDUs that lead to bacterial and viral infections, 2) improve skin and needle cleaning behavioral skills, and 3) increase skin cleaning prior to injection and reduce subcutaneous/intramuscular injection.

In addition to examining these goals over a six-month period, the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention will be examined.

Enrollment

87 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

18 years of age or older
injection of heroin on at least three different days in the last week
injection of heroin for at least three months
visible track marks/puncture wounds from needles
positive urine screen for heroin

Exclusion criteria

currently exhibiting active psychotic symptoms
cannot complete study assessments or the intervention
cannot provide informed consent
unable to provide names and contact information for at least two verifiable locator persons who will know where to find client
plans to relocate from area or be jail over next six months
have been in a Project Safe study in the last year
report being pregnant or attempting to become pregnant