Wound Care Practices Among People Who Inject Drugs in Austin, Texas

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Harm Reduction

Background:

• People who inject drugs (PWID) face barriers to sterile supplies and safer injection education, increasing risks of skin and soft tissue infections.
• Injection-related wounds are common among PWID, often stemming from the use of substances like methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess wound care experiences, knowledge, and practices among individuals who inject drugs (PWID).
• To inform the development of effective wound care services and education for PWID within community-based settings.

Main Methods:

• A multiphase mixed-methods study involving a quantitative survey (N=39) and semi-structured interviews (N=20) with PWID.
• Participants were recruited from a community organization serving PWID in Austin, Texas, with eligibility based on recent injection drug use.

Main Results:

• Over half of PWID surveyed (53.8%) experienced injection-related wounds in the past six months and frequently self-treated them.
• Reasons for self-treatment included confidence, underestimation of wound severity, and experienced stigma.
• Barriers to seeking professional medical care included stigma and financial concerns, highlighting unmet wound care needs.

Conclusions:

• Significant unmet needs exist for wound care treatment and education among PWID.
• Stigma from healthcare providers deters early intervention for injection-related infections.
• Integrating wound care services and education through trusted community-based organizations can improve access and outcomes for PWID.