RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Validity of Injecting Drug Users' Self Report of Hepatitis A, B, and C
JF American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
JO Clin Lab Sci
FD American Society of Chemistry and Laboratory Science
SP 99
OP 106
DO 10.29074/ascls.16.2.99
VO 16
IS 2
A1 Schlicting, Erin G
A1 Johnson, Mark E
A1 Brems, Christiane
A1 Wells, Rebecca S
A1 Fisher, Dennis G
A1 Reynolds, Grace
YR 2003
UL http://hwmaint.clsjournal.ascls.org/content/16/2/99.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE: To test the validity of drug users self-reports of diseases associated with drug use, in this case hepatitis A, B, and C.DESIGN: Injecting drug users (n = 653) were recruited and asked whether they had been diagnosed previously with hepatitis A, B, and/or C. These self-report data were compared to total hepatitis A antibody, hepatitis B core antibody, and hepatitis C antibody seromarkers as a means of determining the validity of the self-reported information.SETTING: Anchorage, Alaska.PARTICIPANTS: Criteria for inclusion included being at least 18-years old; testing positive on urinalysis for cocaine metabolites, amphetamine, or morphine; having visible signs of injection (track marks).INTERVENTION: Serological testing for hepatitis A, B, and C.MAIN OUTCOME: Findings indicate high specificity, low sensitivity, and low kappa coefficients for all three self-report measures.RESULTS: Subgroup analyses revealed significant differences in sensitivity associated with previous substance abuse treatment experience for hepatitis B self-report and with gender for hepatitis C self-report.CONCLUSION: Given the low sensitivity, the validity of drug users, self-reported information on hepatitis should be considered with caution.ABBREVIATIONS: HAV = hepatitis A virus; HBV = hepatitis B virus; HCV = hepatitis C virus; HIV = human immunodeficiency virus; IDU = injection drug user; STD = sexually transmitted disease.