RETAIN: Retaining Opioid Users Entering Medication Assisted Treatment and Encouraging HCV/HIV Testing

The pre-post study of RETAIN will: 1) assess the acceptability of RETAIN as measured by participant feedback about the intervention; 2) test the impact of RETAIN on knowledge about MAT, as measured by the MAT Knowledge Assessment; 3) assess MAT retention rates in patients completing the RETAIN intervention; 4) test the impact of RETAIN on knowledge about HCV/ HIV; 5) test the impact of RETAIN on interest in being tested for HCV/HIV.

The acceptability of RETAIN will be assessed with a feedback form which includes questions about how helpful the intervention was (scale of 1-4), what the patient liked most and least about the intervention, and any suggestions for improving it. The average (and standard deviation) for the rated helpfulness of the intervention will be derived and the qualitative data about what they liked most and least about the intervention and suggestions for improvement will be tabulated. Pre-/post-changes in the percent of correct knowledge assessment items (i.e., about MAT and HCV/HIV) and interest in HCV/HIV testing will be analyzed using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The 3- and 6-month retention rates for RETAIN participants will be compared, using Fisher's exact tests, to the overall treatment retention rates at 3- and 6- months for the UC Health MAT clinics as determined by the retrospective chart review.

Inclusion criteria

• At least 18 years of age
• Starting MAT with methadone or suboxone or in MAT for less than 2 weeks;

Exclusion criteria

• Does not sign the "short form" consent form