Accessing Pharmacy-Based HCV/HIV Services Among People Who Use Drugs in Rural Kentucky Open Access

Abstract

Purpose: The United States has experienced outbreaks of HIV and HCV among people who use drugs (PWUD) and live in rural areas. Pharmacy-based interventions may play a crucial role in preventing these infections especially in areas where traditional health care access points are limited. Even so, the willingness of rural PWUD to use pharmacies for HIV/HCV harm reduction services is unknown. The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of PWUDs living in rural Kentucky associated with attitudes towards using pharmacy-based harm reduction services. The characteristics of interest were chosen based on the Anderson and Newman framework of health services.

Methods: This study used baseline data from the CARE2HOPE longitudinal study. CARE2HOPE participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) methods. To be eligible, individuals had to live in one of five counties in eastern Kentucky and be an adult who had either used an opioid to get high or injected a drug to get high in the past 30 days. Logistic regression was used to create two separate models for each outcome.

Results: 325 participants were enrolled in the study. Among those who answered the survey questions, 74% answered that they were “very likely” to participate in free HIV testing and 78% indicated that they were “very likely” to participate in free HCV testing offered at the pharmacy. Only one characteristic was found to be associated with the likelihood of participating in HIV testing at pharmacies. Those who previously tested for HIV were less willing to go to a pharmacist for free HIV testing.

Conclusion: Pharmacy-based HIV and HCV testing was acceptable among most PWUD participants. Our findings suggest that the choice of using harm reduction services in pharmacies is not affected by the individual’s characteristics. 

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BACKGROUND……………………………………………………………………………….1

METHODS………………………………………………………………………………..…..4

           Study Design……………………………………………………………………....…4

Measures………………………………………………………………………………….....5

Analysis…………………………………………………………………………………....…6

RESULTS…………………………………………………………………………………….…7

Descriptive Statistics………………………………………………………………….…7

Outcome variables……………………………………………………………….……...8

Analysis of utilizing free HIV testing at pharmacies……………………….…...8

Analysis of utilizing free HIV testing at pharmacies………………………..….10

DISCUSSION………………………………………………………………………………..12

Future Directions……………………………………………………………………....14

REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………….15

TABLES………………………………………………………………………………………18

Table 1……………………………………………………………………………...……18

Table 2…………………………………………………………………………………...19

Table 3…………………………………………………………………………………...20

Table 4…………………………………………………………………………………...21

Table 5…………………………………………………………………………………...22

About this Master's Thesis

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• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Epidemiology
Subfield / Discipline	Epidemiology - MPH & MSPH
Degree	M.S.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Health Sciences, Epidemiology
Keyword	Pharmacy services Harm reduction HCV HIV
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Hannah Cooper, Emory University Chris Delcher, University of Kentucky

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