The PROTECT study; a feasibility trial of a psychosocial intervention to reduce blood borne virus (BBV) risk

The PROTECT study; a feasibility trial of a psychosocial intervention to reduce blood borne virus (BBV) risk

Dr Noel Craine, Research Scientist, Public Health Wales
  • What was/is the public health challenge or issue? Who has collaborated on this work?

Noel gave an excellent overview of the PROTECT study, a three country collaboration involving academics, public health specialists and the third sector (as part of the intervention development group) from Wales, Scotland and England. This intervention trial was aimed at reducing risks associated with contracting blood borne viruses (BBV), principally Hepatitis C and HIV in injecting drug users. Despite efforts to reduce use of needle sharing amongst injecting drug users, it is intransigently high and this is a public health issue given the high rates of Hepatitis C amongst people who inject drugs.

  • What was done/being done to address this?

The aim of the study was to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a psychosocial intervention to understand some of the influences on BBV risk behaviours and reduce transmission risk amongst injecting drug users through a randomised control trial. Initial interviews with drug users showed the factors which influenced injecting risk behaviours were diverse and complex, and that perhaps controversially, the interventions should target improving injecting techniques and promoting the use of sterile equipment.

  • What are the main outcomes/findings or suggestions for future work?

The trial involved either usual practice as the control i.e. information booklet and leaflet or the intervention which besides usual practice included 3 x 1 hr sessions of psychosocial intervention. Encouragingly, the intervention did not appear to encourage riskier injecting practices or increase frequency of injecting. Attendance across the research sites varied between 63% and zero attendance, and those identified as being in most need of such an intervention service were least likely to use it. This led to the conclusion that a full trial was not justified. More information about the PROTECT intervention can be found at www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/depts/addictions/research/drugs/PROTECT-download-page-form.aspx.  

For Noel's presentation click here