Acceptability of low dead space syringes and implications for their introduction: A qualitative study in the West of England.

ABSTRACT:

Background

It is recommended that needle and syringe programmes (NSP) distribute low dead space syringes (LDSS) to reduce blood-borne virus transmission. We explored the acceptability of detachable LDSS among people who inject drugs (PWID) and staff who work to support them.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were performed with 23 PWID (15 men and 8 women) and 13 NSP staff members (6 men and 7 women) in Bath and Bristol, England. Recruited PWID reflected varying demographic characteristics, drug use and injecting preferences. Interviews explored experiences of different types of injecting equipment, facilitators and barriers of changing this equipment and attitudes towards detachable LDSS. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using the Framework

SUBMITTER: Kesten JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6688102 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature