- Stigma is a key barrier to mpox health measures in gay and bisexual menIn May 2022, cases of mpox (a virus normally found in west and central Africa) started to appear internationally. By December 2022 there were 3,732 confirmed and highly probable cases in the UK. The mpox outbreak disproportionately affected gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and it was essential that information on the outbreak got to these groups without generating stigma. In response to the outbreak, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) encouraged people to adopt mitigation measures such as vaccination, self-isolation and […]
- Understanding the lethal interactions between benzodiazepines and opioids to develop new harm reduction strategiesA multidisciplinary project to understand why taking benzodiazepines or z-drugs and opioids together leads to so many deaths, brought together qualitative researchers with other specialists. One paper from the study has now been published in the Harm Reduction Journal, a pre-print for another paper is available and a third is underway. Here the qualitative team discuss their findings. The number of people dying because of drugs is rising in the UK, especially in Scotland. Many of these deaths involve a combination of opioids (heroin or methadone) and […]
- The importance of an Inclusive study design My reflections – Hepatitis C Case finding in Primary Care Pilot (HepCAPP Study)By Dr Kirsty Roberts, Senior Lecturer in Trials Methodology and Deputy Research Director EDI, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol. BackgroundHepCAPP was a pilot, oral swab Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) screening study which was funded by NHS England in 2019 and completed in 2023. The study invited over 98,000 people aged 40-64 registered at selected GP practices. 12,216 (12.4%) consented and returned their sample to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for testing. The study participants found the approach to testing acceptable and […]
