The experiences of people who use injection drugs with accessing hepatitis c testing and diagnosis in western countries: A scoping review

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe purpose of this scoping review was to summarize the literature that reported on the experiences of people who use injection drugs’ access to hepatitis C testing and diagnosis in Western countries.MethodsThe initial search was conducted in 2020 and an updated review was completed in 2022. Seven electronic databases were searched using a peer‐reviewed search strategy and included: full‐text, peer‐reviewed studies with people who inject(ed) drugs, hepatitis C testing or diagnosis, conducted in Western countries. Excluded were studies published prior to 2014 and intervention studies. Two‐step screening was conducted in duplicate. Conventional content analysis was used.ResultsSix studies were found from the search. The studies were published between 2014 and 2021 in Australia, United Kingdom, and United States. A total of 19 participant characteristics were extracted to contextualize their experiences, demonstrating a lack of demographic data. Four themes were found: Awareness and Knowledge, Stigma, Healthcare Service, and Psychological Responses. There were 58 occurrences of client quotes where participants described their experiences, 29 occurrences of quotes describing client‐identified barriers, and 14 occurrences of quotes describing client‐identified facilitators.ConclusionA scoping review was conducted to present the experiences, barriers, and facilitators of people who use injection drugs to hepatitis C testing. The lack of demographic data and connection to client quotes further exacerbates the inequities among the population by overlooking their intragroup identities. Understanding their experiences of accessing hepatitis C testing and collecting demographic data will help advance health policies and interventions targeting people who use injection drugs.