Coaching for HCV and HIV

Peer Recovery Coaching to Facilitate Comprehensive HCV, HIV and Opioid Use Disorder Treatment: A Pilot Study

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), BU Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI)

The objective of this study is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a peer recovery coach (PRC) intervention to improve linkage to hepatitis C (HCV) and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care, treatment initiation, and evaluation for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) (when applicable) among individuals with a history of opioid use disorder accessing a substance use low-barrier-to-access (LBA) walk-in clinic. In-depth interviews will be administered to participants at baseline, three- and six-months for study participants (40 total participants). The investigator will also follow-up with the per recovery coach and administer surveys to assess the feasibility of a peer recovery coaching intervention in improving HCV/HIV related linkage to care and management. Patient medical records and peer recovery coach monthly reports will be accessed and reviewed to determine fidelity to research protocols.

*NOTE* Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, surveys were conducted via telephone and not all participants could be contacted. Therefore, the number of results from participants at three months and six months vary. The data gathered are from participants that were reachable and completed the surveys.

Peer recovery coach (PRC), Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), HIV care, HCV care, Low-barrier-to-access (LBA)

Participants in the intervention group will receive a semi-scripted brief motivational interview from the peer recovery coach (PRC) in addition to the standard of care at Boston Medical Center (BMC) for HIV, HCV, and opioid use disorder.

The intervention will involve the following elements: establishing rapport, asking permission to discuss drugs, discussing the pros and cons associated with drug use, uncovering the gaps between current and desired quality of life and determining readiness to change. The intervention will last approximately 20 minutes and take place at the time of the clinical visit while participants are waiting to be seen by a clinician or are awaiting laboratory testing.

As part of an investigator developed survey a 5-point LIkert scale question will be asked on how acceptable the intervention/care was where 1 is not acceptable and 5 is very acceptable.

Participants will be interviewed and asked investigator developed questions about linkage to HIV care

Participants will be interviewed and asked investigator developed questions about linkage to HCV care

Participants will be interviewed and asked investigator developed questions about their linkage to care for opioid use

Whether participants received PrEp treatment will be abstracted from their electronic medical records (EMR) system.

Whether participants received HCV care will be abstracted from their electronic medical records (EMR) system.

Whether participants received opioid use treatment will be abstracted from their electronic medical records (EMR) system.

Inclusion Criteria: Individuals with opioid use disorder, non-reactive HIV antibody test and reactive HCV antibody testing at the BMC LBA walk-in clinic Able to speak English Individuals providing contact information of two family members or friends Individuals signing a medical records release form Exclusion Criteria: Individuals already linked to substance use care Individuals co-infected with HIV and HCV and engaged in care