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                                       Details for article 10 of 15 found articles
 
 
  Out-patient medical care in Edinburgh for IDU-related HIV
 
 
Title: Out-patient medical care in Edinburgh for IDU-related HIV
Author: Brettle, R. P.
Willocks, L.
Hamilton, B. A.
Shaw, L.
Leen, C. L. S.
Richardson, A.
Gore, S. M.
Appeared in: AIDS care
Paging: Volume 6 (1994) nr. 1 pages 49-58
Year: 1994-01-01
Contents: Using combined medical and drug clinics, by the end of 1990 we had initiated contact with 511 HIV positive individuals, 75% injection drug use (IDU) related We have previously reported a significant reduction in the number of missed appointments from 1985-89 following the introduction of methadone and an all day clinic, but between 1989 and 1990 the appointment default rate rose from 17 to 25%. A significant percentage increase in missed appointments was, however, only seen in those not attending the all day clinic (x2(3) = 121.3, p < 0.001). An analysis of the patients missing appointments during 1989-90 revealed that 36-45% of patients attending each year missed only 1 or 2 appointments, that the majority of missed appointments each year were accounted for by less than 20% of the patients, around 60% of these patients missed appointments in both years and that only 2% of patients attending both years consistently miss 3 or more appointments per year. Laboratory monitoring of HIV, that is at least one sampling episode in a year, was achieved, however, in 92-95% of the patients attending each year. The annual number of patients lost to follow-up varied between 7 and 11% per year, but did not change significantly over time, whilst the cumulative number of HIV infected individuals lost to follow-up after 5 years was only 14%. Between 1986 and 1990 self-reported reduction in IDU was more likely in HIV positive than negative individuals; the number of HIV positive individuals who reported injecting for more than 50% of the year fell from 40 to 5% (x2(4) = 15.23, p < 0.01) whilst the number who reported at least one injection per year fell from 51 to 23% (x2(4) = 62.06, p < 0.001). By comparison amongst non-HIV-infected patients the percentage who reported opiate use for more than 50% of the visits during a year rose from 54% in 1986 to a peak of 70% in 1989 (x2(4) = 10.22, p < 0.05) and those who reported opiate use at least once during the year rose from 57% in 1986 to a peak of 75% in 1989 (x2(4) = 14.3, p = 0.006). Combined medical and drug clinics from 1986 to 1990 together with a multi-disciplinary team approach to medical care was successful in delivering health care to HIV-infected injection drug users. We have initiated and maintained contact with HIV infected drug users, undertaken laboratory monitoring of HIV in 95% of patients and noted a decrease in self-reported high risk injection drug use. Whilst such a system is relatively inefficient from the health service's point of view, it may be necessary in order to maintain contact with the most difficult drug users.
Publisher: Routledge
Source file: Elektronische Wetenschappelijke Tijdschriften
 
 

                             Details for article 10 of 15 found articles
 
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