Karen Dunleavy1, Alison Munro2, Kirsty Roy3, Sharon Hutchinson4, Norah Palmateer4, Tony Knox2, David Goldberg3, Vivian Hope5, John Campbell6, Emma Hamilton7, David Liddell7, Gillian Penrice8, Avril Taylor2. 1. School of Media, Culture and Society, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, PA1 2BE, Scotland, United Kingdom. Electronic address: karen.dunleavy@uws.ac.uk. 2. School of Media, Culture and Society, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, PA1 2BE, Scotland, United Kingdom. 3. Health Protection Scotland, NHS National Services Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. 4. Health Protection Scotland, NHS National Services Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom; School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. 5. Public Health Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom. 6. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Festival Business Park, Brand St, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. 7. Scottish Drugs Forum, 91 Mitchell Street, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. 8. Gartnavel Royal Hospital, West House, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is no research on public health interventions that alert people who inject drugs (PWID) to clusters/outbreaks of severe bacterial infections. In Scotland, during the botulism cluster/outbreak of Dec 2014-July 2015 harm reduction (HR) messages detailed on a postcard (Botulism Postcard) were distributed to PWID between Feb-April 2015. We examined the impact of the Botulism Postcard on cluster/outbreak awareness, healthcare seeking and HR behaviours among PWID; and their views on such clusters/outbreaks. METHODS: The Botulism Postcard questionnaire survey was undertaken with 288 PWID recruited in Greater Glasgow and Clyde between May-August 2015. Multivariate logistic regression was undertaken. Between Oct 2015-January 2016 22 in-depth interviews were conducted with PWID in Glasgow and Edinburgh, these underwent thematic analysis. RESULTS: 38% (108/284) had never seen the postcard, 14% (40/284) had only seen it, 34% (98/284) read but not discussed it and 13% (38/284) had discussed it with service staff. Cluster/outbreak awareness was higher among those who had read (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.374, CI 2.394-11.349, p < 0.001) or discussed the postcard (aOR = 25.114, CI 3.188-190.550, p < 0.001); and symptom awareness was higher among those who had read (aOR = 2.664, CI 1.322-4.890, p < 0.001) or discussed the postcard (aOR = 6.707, CI 2.744 16.252, p < 0.001) than among those who had never seen it. The odds of introducing HR was higher among those who had discussed the postcard (AOR = 3.304 CI 1.425 7.660, p < 0.01) than those who had only read it. PWID learnt about clusters/outbreaks from several sources and despite concerns they continued to inject during such events. CONCLUSION: More widespread exposure to the Botulism Postcard during the outbreak/cluster was needed. The Botulism Postcard distributed to PWID may raise awareness of such events, the symptoms, and may encourage HR particularly when used as a tool by frontline staff to initiate discussion. Acknowledging that people continue to inject during clusters/outbreaks of such infections necessitates a pragmatic HR approach.
BACKGROUND: There is no research on public health interventions that alert people who inject drugs (PWID) to clusters/outbreaks of severe bacterial infections. In Scotland, during the botulism cluster/outbreak of Dec 2014-July 2015 harm reduction (HR) messages detailed on a postcard (Botulism Postcard) were distributed to PWID between Feb-April 2015. We examined the impact of the Botulism Postcard on cluster/outbreak awareness, healthcare seeking and HR behaviours among PWID; and their views on such clusters/outbreaks. METHODS: The Botulism Postcard questionnaire survey was undertaken with 288 PWID recruited in Greater Glasgow and Clyde between May-August 2015. Multivariate logistic regression was undertaken. Between Oct 2015-January 2016 22 in-depth interviews were conducted with PWID in Glasgow and Edinburgh, these underwent thematic analysis. RESULTS: 38% (108/284) had never seen the postcard, 14% (40/284) had only seen it, 34% (98/284) read but not discussed it and 13% (38/284) had discussed it with service staff. Cluster/outbreak awareness was higher among those who had read (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.374, CI 2.394-11.349, p < 0.001) or discussed the postcard (aOR = 25.114, CI 3.188-190.550, p < 0.001); and symptom awareness was higher among those who had read (aOR = 2.664, CI 1.322-4.890, p < 0.001) or discussed the postcard (aOR = 6.707, CI 2.744 16.252, p < 0.001) than among those who had never seen it. The odds of introducing HR was higher among those who had discussed the postcard (AOR = 3.304 CI 1.425 7.660, p < 0.01) than those who had only read it. PWID learnt about clusters/outbreaks from several sources and despite concerns they continued to inject during such events. CONCLUSION: More widespread exposure to the Botulism Postcard during the outbreak/cluster was needed. The Botulism Postcard distributed to PWID may raise awareness of such events, the symptoms, and may encourage HR particularly when used as a tool by frontline staff to initiate discussion. Acknowledging that people continue to inject during clusters/outbreaks of such infections necessitates a pragmatic HR approach.