OBJECTIVE: To test the validity of drug users self-reports of diseases associated with drug use, in this case hepatitis A, B, and C. DESIGN: Injecting drug users (n = 653) were recruited and asked whether they had been diagnosed previously with hepatitis A, B, and/or C. These self-report data were compared to total hepatitis A antibody, hepatitis B core antibody, and hepatitis C antibody seromarkers as a means of determining the validity of the self-reported information. SETTING: Anchorage, Alaska. PARTICIPANTS: Criteria for inclusion included being at least 18-years old; testing positive on urinalysis for cocaine metabolites, amphetamine, or morphine; having visible signs of injection (track marks). INTERVENTION: Serological testing for hepatitis A, B, and C. MAIN OUTCOME: Findings indicate high specificity, low sensitivity, and low kappa coefficients for all three self-report measures. RESULTS: Subgroup analyses revealed significant differences in sensitivity associated with previous substance abuse treatment experience for hepatitis B self-report and with gender for hepatitis C self-report. CONCLUSION: Given the low sensitivity, the validity of drug users, self-reported information on hepatitis should be considered with caution.
OBJECTIVE: To test the validity of drug users self-reports of diseases associated with drug use, in this case hepatitis A, B, and C. DESIGN: Injecting drug users (n = 653) were recruited and asked whether they had been diagnosed previously with hepatitis A, B, and/or C. These self-report data were compared to total hepatitis A antibody, hepatitis B core antibody, and hepatitis C antibody seromarkers as a means of determining the validity of the self-reported information. SETTING: Anchorage, Alaska. PARTICIPANTS: Criteria for inclusion included being at least 18-years old; testing positive on urinalysis for cocaine metabolites, amphetamine, or morphine; having visible signs of injection (track marks). INTERVENTION: Serological testing for hepatitis A, B, and C. MAIN OUTCOME: Findings indicate high specificity, low sensitivity, and low kappa coefficients for all three self-report measures. RESULTS: Subgroup analyses revealed significant differences in sensitivity associated with previous substance abuse treatment experience for hepatitis B self-report and with gender for hepatitis C self-report. CONCLUSION: Given the low sensitivity, the validity of drug users, self-reported information on hepatitis should be considered with caution.
Authors: Rachel M Deacon; Libby Topp; Handan Wand; Carolyn A Day; Craig Rodgers; Paul S Haber; Ingrid van Beek; Lisa Maher Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2012-10 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Stephen M Davis; Shay Daily; Alfgeir L Kristjansson; George A Kelley; Keith Zullig; Adam Baus; Danielle Davidov; Melanie Fisher Journal: Harm Reduct J Date: 2017-05-17