RESUMO
Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is commonly comorbid with opioid dependence (OD). We wanted to compare the neurocognitive functions of OD subjects with or without HCV [HCV (+), HCV (-)] and healthy controls (HC). Methods: We recruited 40 adult subjects (age 18-55 years) in each group. HCV(+) group had a detectable viral load. Subjects with HIV or hepatitis B infection, head injury, epilepsy, or comorbid mental illness were excluded. We administered Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), trail-making tests A and B, and verbal and visual N-back tests (NBT) one week after opioid abstinence. The group differences in cognitive performance were adjusted for age and years of education. Effect size (ES) is expressed as Cohen's D. Results: The HCV(+) and HCV(-) groups did not differ in potential effect modifiers (age and years of education) or confounders (age of opioid initiation, duration of use, dependence severity, tobacco use, and cannabis use) of neuropsychological functioning. HCV(+) showed significantly poorer performance than HCV(-) in SPM (P = 0.006; ES = 0.72). Both HCV(+) and HCV(-) performed worse than controls in IGT(P < 0.001; ES = 0.8) and visual NBT[P < 0.01 and ES > 1 for total errors]; HCV(+) had a larger ES of group difference than HCV(-). HCV(+) had higher error scores in verbal NBT than control. Conclusion: HCV(+) has poorer general intellectual ability and reasoning than HCV(-) persons and controls. Chronic HCV infection causes a higher magnitude of dysfunction in decision-making and visual working memory in opioid-dependent individuals.
RESUMO
Context: Telemedicine has become one of the essential modes of healthcare delivery. Different aspects of the physician-patient relationship during tele and in-person consultation need to be studied. Aims: This study aimed to compare perceived empathy and therapeutic relationship between tele and in-person consultation and assess the patient's satisfaction during teleconsultation for substance use disorder (SUD). Methodology: We consecutively recruited 100 adult patients with SUD, registered to the tele-addiction service between June and September 2020, and experienced both video and in-person consultations. We assessed therapeutic relationships, perceived empathy (for teleconsultation and in-person consultation), and patients' satisfaction (with teleconsultation) with specific scales. We compared the scores of the therapeutic relationship and physician empathy scales for tele and in-person consultation. Results: The mean age of the patients was 35.5 (±10.4) years. Sixty percent had alcohol, followed by opioids (42%) and cannabis dependence (24%). Sixty percent of patients had comorbid tobacco dependence. Telehealth satisfaction (TSS) rating shows around 40% of patients had difficulty accessing the telehealth service and 7% felt their privacy was poorly respected. The mean total therapeutic relation (STAR) (t = -14.4; P <.001), positive collaboration (t = -12.8; P <.001), positive clinical input (t = -11.9; P <.001), and total Patient's Perceptions of Physician Empathy (PPPE) score (t = -8.4; P < .001) were lower in the teleconsultation than in-person consultation group. TSS was positively correlated with positive collaboration, positive clinician input, and STAR total score. Conclusions: Our study suggests a stronger therapeutic relationship and higher physician empathy during in-person consultations. Poor accessibility and privacy concerns were critical challenges in telehealth service. TSS and therapeutic relationships positively influence each other.
