Abstract
Despite the seriousness of Hepatitis C (HCV), many patients do not receive treatment. One promising means of addressing these issues for medically ill patients is through participation in support group services. This study examined individual-, treatment- and system-level factors associated with enrolling in a support group intervention (psychoeducation) for persons with HCV. A total of 235 research participants were recruited as part of a NIAAA-funded randomized clinical trial for patients with HCV and their family members, with 172 (73.2 %) agreeing to enroll in the psychoeducation trial and 63 (26.8 %) declining. Factors leading to enrollment indicated that individuals without employment, with certain personality structures (low cooperativeness and self-directedness), and traveling greater distance to their group were more likely to agree to participate. Populations being seen in public settings demonstrate a desire for additional support and education, but at the same time these potential participants are faced with challenges to following through and enrolling in the desired services.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, grant RO1-015201 to Dr. North. Points of view in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of NIAAA, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the U.S. Government.
Disclosures
Dr. North discloses employment by VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX, USA. Dr. North also discloses research support from NIAAA, NIDDK, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, consultant fees from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and from the Tarrant County, TX Department of Health, and speaker’s fees from the Pueblo City/County, CO Department of Health.
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Pollio, D.E., North, C.S., Hudson, A.M. et al. A Comparison of Enrollees Versus Non-enrollees in a Patient/Family HCV Psychoeducation Study. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 20, 156–163 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-012-9332-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-012-9332-1