This study builds upon an ongoing NIH-funded randomized controlled trial (R01DA053325) evaluating a Partner Navigation Intervention to increase hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment initiation among young adult people who inject drugs (PWID) and their injecting partners in San Francisco. The proposed research includes secondary analyses of existing trial data, additional survey measures, qualitative interviews, and a pilot intervention adaptation.
The study has two primary objectives. First, it examines how racialized discrimination (structural, interpersonal, and internalized) affects HCV treatment initiation and dyadic partner support processes within injecting partnerships. Second, it evaluates whether a brief, adapted "booster" partner navigation session delivered at HCV treatment completion can improve engagement in ongoing healthcare.
Participants include adults (≥18 years) who inject drugs and have been diagnosed with HCV, along with their primary injecting partners. Study activities include longitudinal surveys, qualitative interviews with a subset of participants, and a pilot intervention session with follow-up evaluation.
This research addresses critical gaps in understanding how social relationships and structural inequities influence healthcare engagement among PWID. Findings will inform culturally responsive adaptations to dyadic interventions and improve continuity of care in a population disproportionately affected by HCV and systemic barriers to healthcare.
18 years of age or older at enrollment
History of injecting drug use
Completed HCV treatment within the past 3 months
Report a primary injecting partner willing to participate
Unable to provide informed consent due to cognitive impairment or acute intoxication at the time of enrollment
Previously participated in this study in any capacity
Single group
Partner navigation intervention booster session
BehavioralA single adapted dyadic session delivered to PWID and their primary injecting partner at the point of HCV treatment completion. The session builds on the original two-session Partner Navigation Intervention (PNI) developed in the YETI study (R01DA053325) and is adapted to target partnership-based support for broader post-treatment healthcare access, including primary care, mental health, and harm reduction services. Session content includes collaborative goal-setting, barrier identification, and partner communication skills.
Acceptability of the booster session
Participant-reported acceptability of the adapted Partner Navigation Intervention booster session, assessed via via brief 3 item questionnaire with 4-point likert response options. Administered to index participants and their injecting partners following session completion.
Feasibility: recruitment rate
Proportion of eligible dyads who consent and enroll, calculated as the number enrolled divided by the number approached and screened.
Feasibility: retention rate
Proportion of enrolled dyads who complete the booster session, calculated as session completion rate among enrolled participants.
Fidelity to session protocol
Adherence to the adapted booster session protocol assessed by trained observer using a structured fidelity checklist; reported as proportion of session components delivered as intended.
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University of California, San Francisco
Lead sponsor
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Collaborator
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