Intended Audience:

This presentation is ideal for healthcare providers, harm reduction workers, social workers, outreach professionals, peer support workers, and anyone involved in the care and support of individuals who inject drugs.

Description:

"Compassionate Conversations: Navigating HIV & Hepatitis C Testing & Treatment Referrals" is a critical session focused on building the skills needed to engage in supportive, non-judgmental conversations with individuals who inject drugs (PWID) about HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) testing and treatment. This presentation will explore strategies for fostering trust, promoting harm reduction, and providing effective referrals for testing and treatment in a compassionate and patient-centered manner.

Key Topics: 

• Understanding HIV & Hepatitis C Risks: Overview of HIV and HCV transmission risks associated with injection drug use, including sharing needles and other equipment.
• Importance of Early Detection: Highlighting the benefits of early testing and treatment for both HIV and HCV, including improved health outcomes and reduced transmission.
• Compassionate Communication Strategies: Best practices for having respectful and empathetic conversations with PWID about the importance of testing and treatment while acknowledging the challenges they may face.
• Navigating Stigma and Mistrust: Addressing stigma related to drug use, HIV, and HCV and building trust with individuals who may be hesitant or fearful of testing.
• Referral to Testing and Treatment: Effective methods for connecting individuals with testing services, ensuring access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and HCV treatment options.
• Overcoming Barriers to Care: Identify common barriers PWID faces in accessing care, such as fear of discrimination, cost, or lack of transportation, and strategies to help mitigate these challenges.
• Harm Reduction in Testing and Treatment: Integrating harm reduction principles into conversations about testing and treatment, ensuring that individuals feel supported regardless of their readiness to seek care.
• Culturally Competent Care: Understanding the importance of cultural competence and tailoring conversations and referrals to meet diverse populations' specific needs and concerns.