Liver disease knowledge and acceptability of non-invasive liver fibrosis assessment among people who inject drugs in the drug and alcohol setting : The LiveRLife Study

Background: The aim of this study was to assess factors associated with baseline knowledge of HCV and liver disease, acceptability of transient elastography (TE) assessment (FibroScan®), and willingness and intent to receive HCV treatment among persons with a history of injection drug use participating in a liver health promotion campaign. Methods: The LiveRLife campaign involved three phases: (1) campaign resource development; (2) campaign resource testing; and (3) campaign implementation. Participants were enrolled in an observational cohort study with recruitment at four clinics – one primary health care facility, two OST clinics, and one medically supervised injecting centre – in Australia between May and October 2014. Participants received educational material, nurse clinical assessment, TE assessment, dried blood spot testing, and completed a knowledge survey. Results: Of 253 participants (mean age 43 years), 68% were male, 71% had injected in the past month, and 75% self-reported as HCV positive. Median knowledge score was 16/23. In adjusted analysis, less than daily injection (AOR 5.01; 95% CI, 2.64–9.51) and no daily injection in the past month (AOR 3.54; 95% CI, 1.80–6.94) were associated with high knowledge (≥16). TE was the most preferred method both pre- (66%) and post-TE (89%) compared to liver biopsy and blood sample. Eighty-eight percent were ‘definitely willing’ or ‘somewhat willing’ to receive HCV treatment, and 56% intended to start treatment in the next 12 months. Approximately 68% had no/mild fibrosis (F0/F1, ≥2.5 to ≤7.4 kPa), 13% moderate fibrosis (F2, ≥7.5 to ≤9.4 kPa), 10% severe fibrosis (F3, ≥9.5 to ≤12.4 kPa), and 9% had cirrhosis (F4, ≥12.5 kPa). Conclusion: Liver disease and HCV knowledge was moderate. High acceptability of TE by PWID provides strong evidence for the inclusion of TE in HCV-related care, and could help to prioritise HCV treatment for those at greatest risk of liver disease progression.