Implementing Promising Strategies to Reduce the Risk for Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Among People Who Inject Drugs.

Abstract

To describe a 3-year demonstration project with selected Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (NCCCP) award recipients to build partnerships with local organizations to improve knowledge and awareness of the association between injecting drugs and the risk for viral hepatitis and liver cancer, improve delivery of viral hepatitis services, and implement comprehensive syringe services programs. A mixed-methods descriptive evaluation of selected evidence-based interventions or promising strategies that each award recipient implemented based on the needs of their population. Selected provider and patient populations served by NCCCP award recipients in Iowa, Minnesota (American Indian Cancer Foundation), Mississippi, and West Virginia. Four award recipients that implemented individually-tailored strategies and activities. Processes were assessed through monitoring and tracking tools. Challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations were collected via qualitative interviews. We used descriptive statistics to analyze quantitative data. We analyzed award recipient interviews using thematic analysis. Activities were implemented across four strategies. Strong public-private partnerships, ongoing technical assistance, a deep understanding of individual populations, and a shared commitment to remaining flexible were main factors. While challenges existed, award recipients implemented key strategies and activities in their populations. Findings contribute to the scaling of best practices to the larger cancer control community especially those whose populations are at higher risk for viral hepatitis.