by Barbara Paterson, Geri Hirsch, Karen Andres
Abstract:
Background Interventions to mediate the stigmatization of people affected with HCV, particularly those who use illicit drugs, have been largely focused on changing health care practitioners’ attitudes and knowledge regarding Hepatitis C and illicit drug use and these have had disappointing results. There is a need for research that examines factors beyond individual practitioners that explains why and how stigmatization of the population occurs within health care and informs interventions to mitigate these factors. Methods The research was intended to identify structural factors that contribute to the structural stigmatization of people within hospital Emergency Departments who are current users of illicit drugs and are \HCV\ positive. The research had an interpretive description design and occurred in Nova Scotia, Canada. The year-long qualitative study entailed individual interviews of 50 service providers in hospital \EDs\ or community organizations that served this population. Results The research findings generated a model of structural stigmatization that greatly expands the current understanding of stigmatization beyond individual practitioners’ attitudes and knowledge and internal structures to incorporate structures external to hospitals, such as physician shortages within the community and the mandate of \EDs\ to reduce wait times. Conclusions The research reported herein has conceptualized stigmatization beyond an individualistic approach to incorporate the multifaceted ways that such stigmatization is fostered and supported by internal and external structures.
Reference:
Structural factors that promote stigmatization of drug users with hepatitis C in hospital emergency departments (Barbara Paterson, Geri Hirsch, Karen Andres), In International Journal of Drug Policy, volume 24, no. 5, 2013.AbstractBackground Interventions to mediate the stigmatization of people affected with HCV, particularly those who use illicit drugs, have been largely focused on changing health care practitioners’ attitudes and knowledge regarding Hepatitis C and illicit drug use and these have had disappointing results. There is a need for research that examines factors beyond individual practitioners that explains why and how stigmatization of the population occurs within health care and informs interventions to mitigate these factors. Methods The research was intended to identify structural factors that contribute to the structural stigmatization of people within hospital Emergency Departments who are current users of illicit drugs and are \HCV\ positive. The research had an interpretive description design and occurred in Nova Scotia, Canada. The year-long qualitative study entailed individual interviews of 50 service providers in hospital \EDs\ or community organizations that served this population. Results The research findings generated a model of structural stigmatization that greatly expands the current understanding of stigmatization beyond individual practitioners’ attitudes and knowledge and internal structures to incorporate structures external to hospitals, such as physician shortages within the community and the mandate of \EDs\ to reduce wait times. Conclusions The research reported herein has conceptualized stigmatization beyond an individualistic approach to incorporate the multifaceted ways that such stigmatization is fostered and supported by internal and external structures.KeywordsIllicit drug use ()
Bibtex Entry:
@article{Paterson2013471,
title = "Structural factors that promote stigmatization of drug users with hepatitis C in hospital emergency departments ",
journal = "International Journal of Drug Policy ",
volume = "24",
number = "5",
pages = "471 - 478",
year = "2013",
note = "",
issn = "0955-3959",
doi = "http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2013.01.008",
url = "http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395913000091",
author = "Barbara Paterson and Geri Hirsch and Karen Andres",
keywords = "Structural stigmatization",
keywords = "Hepatitis C",
keywords = "Emergency departments",
keywords = "Illicit drug use ",
abstract = "Background Interventions to mediate the stigmatization of people affected with HCV, particularly those who use illicit drugs, have been largely focused on changing health care practitioners’ attitudes and knowledge regarding Hepatitis C and illicit drug use and these have had disappointing results. There is a need for research that examines factors beyond individual practitioners that explains why and how stigmatization of the population occurs within health care and informs interventions to mitigate these factors. Methods The research was intended to identify structural factors that contribute to the structural stigmatization of people within hospital Emergency Departments who are current users of illicit drugs and are \{HCV\} positive. The research had an interpretive description design and occurred in Nova Scotia, Canada. The year-long qualitative study entailed individual interviews of 50 service providers in hospital \{EDs\} or community organizations that served this population. Results The research findings generated a model of structural stigmatization that greatly expands the current understanding of stigmatization beyond individual practitioners’ attitudes and knowledge and internal structures to incorporate structures external to hospitals, such as physician shortages within the community and the mandate of \{EDs\} to reduce wait times. Conclusions The research reported herein has conceptualized stigmatization beyond an individualistic approach to incorporate the multifaceted ways that such stigmatization is fostered and supported by internal and external structures. "
}