Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26472669›Full record

ArticleHarm reduction journal2015

Factors that influence the characteristics of needles and syringes used by people who inject drugs in Tajikistan.

William A Zule, Alisher Latypov, David Otiashvili, Irma Kirtadze, Umedjon Ibragimov, Georgiy V Bobashev

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Harm reduction journal, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 21% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed, 21 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

William A ZuleRTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle, Park, NC, 27709-2194, USA. zule@rti.org.
Alisher LatypovManagement Sciences for Health, Leadership, Management and Governance, Kiev, Ukraine.
David OtiashviliAddiction Research Center, Alternative Georgia, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia.
Irma KirtadzeAddiction Research Center, Alternative Georgia, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia.
Umedjon IbragimovBehavioral Sciences and Health Education Department, Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Georgiy V BobashevRTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle, Park, NC, 27709-2194, USA.
RTI International · USGeorgia Department of Juvenile Justice · USIlia State University · GE

Funding

Pilot Test of an Intervention to Change Syringes Used by Injecting Drug UsersR34DA035094 · NIDA · RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE · PI ZULE, WILLIAM A · 2013 to 2015
$665k
NIDA NIH HHS R34 DA035094NIDA NIH HHS R34DA035094
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

background"Low dead space" syringes with permanently attached needles retain less fluid, blood, and HIV after use than standard "high dead space" syringes. This reduces the probability of HIV transmission if they are shared by people who inject drugs (PWID). The World Health Organization recently recommended that needle and syringe programs (NSP) offer clients low dead space syringes. The success of this recommendation will depend on PWID switching to low dead space needles and syringes. This paper examines the needles and syringes that PWID in Tajikistan use and factors that influence their choices.

methodsIn May 2014, we conducted six focus groups in Kulob and six in Khorog, Tajikistan, with a total of 100 participants. NSP staff members recruited participants. Focus group topics included the needles and syringes used and factors that influence choice of needles and syringes. Focus groups were conducted in Russian and Tajik, audio recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. The translated files were imported into NVivo 10 for coding and analysis.

resultsAll participants in both cities were male and reported injecting heroin. Everyone also reported using syringes with detachable needles almost exclusively. The most popular syringe sizes were 2 and 5 ml. Needles ranged in gauge from 25 to 21 g. Needle gauge was influenced by the size of the vein, the viscosity of drug solution to be injected, and problems with blood clotting. Needles ranged in length from 12 to 38 mm, with 25 and 32 mm being the most popular. Needle length was influenced by the depth of the vein being used. Many PWID inject volumes of fluid greater than 1 ml into deep veins that require needles at least 25 mm long and 25 g in diameter.

conclusionMost low dead space syringes are 1-ml insulin syringes with 12 mm 28 g permanently attached needles. Findings from this project suggest that these will not be acceptable to PWID who need larger syringes and longer and thicker needles that are detachable. Low dead space detachable needles appear to be an acceptable option that could overcome barriers to the widespread use of low dead space equipment for reducing HIV and HCV transmission.

Indexed as

AdultComorbidityFocus GroupsHepatitis CHIV InfectionsHumansMaleNeedle-Exchange ProgramsNeedlesSubstance Abuse, IntravenousSyringesTajikistanUrban Population

Identifiers

PMID26472669
PMCPMC4608191
OpenAlexW2138602464

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.