Theme: Epidemiology & Public Health Research Year: 2019
Background: Approximately 75% of U.S. methadone patients have chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infections yet
few initiate treatment. We developed “Take Charge, Get Cured”, a mHealth treatment decision tool
tailored to concerns of methadone patients using innovative commercial marketing techniques called
perceptual mapping and vector modeling. The tool includes easy to understand educational information
using animation and voice-over, video with real patients, a selection of questions to ask doctors, and a
pros/cons list they can use to aid in treatment decisions.
Methods: We conducted a pilot randomized control trial at four Philadelphia, PA methadone treatment
centers to test feasibility of our tool and compare its impact on perceptions and knowledge about HCV
and HCV treatment, decisional conflict, self-efficacy, and intention to initiate HCV care to a Cochraneapproved, non-tailored HCV decision aid. Subjects (n=122) were administered baseline questionnaires,
interacted with the tailored or untailored decision aids on a tablet and answered post-test questions
(N=120). At 3-month follow-up, subjects (n=93; 76%) were re-administered the questionnaires, discussed
the decision aids, and noted actions taken to initiate HCV care.
Results: Testing indicated that “Take Charge, Get Cured” users were more likely to report the tool helped
with decision making and had greater improvement in knowledge, decisional conflict, self-efficacy, and
intention to be treated. Likelihood to initiate treatment increased more in tailored group at post but
leveled at follow up.
Conclusions: A highly targeted decision tool is an acceptable and feasible intervention to increase HCV
treatment knowledge, decrease decisional conflict, and affect intentions. Future interventions will need
to address potential structural issues that affect treatment follow-through.
Disclose of interest: none