Deep Vein Thromboses in Injecting Drug Users

Meanings, Bodily Experiences, and Stigma

Bibliographic Data

ID4675267
AuthorsCharles Cornford (0000-0001-9284-518X, Fulcrum Medical Practice, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, corresponding author), Lorraine Fraser (0000-0002-1360-4191, Starfish Health and Wellbeing Teesside, Stockton-on-Tees, United Kingdom), Nat Wright (0000-0003-3547-3724, Transform Research Alliance, Wakefield, United Kingdom)
Year2019
Volume29
Issue11
Pages1641-1650
Publication date2019-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQualitative Health Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1049-7323 • E-ISSN: 1552-7557
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1049732319849026
PMID31140367
OpenAlexW2947154513
LanguageEN
References cited23

Deep vein thromboses (DVTs) are common sequelae of injecting drugs into the groin. We explored meanings and experiences of DVTs in a group of 19 patients from the North East of England with a DVT and in treatment for opioid use. We report three themes: (a) DVT meaning making, (b) embodied experience, and (c) Stigma. Patients attributed DVTs to groin injecting, though thought other factors were also partially responsible. Medication performed both treatment and preventive functions. The most pertinent worry was amputation. Patients recognized stopping injecting as important, but it did not necessarily occur. Stigma resulted in delayed admission to hospital and feelings of isolation; support groups might alleviate the latter. Although groin injecting was undertaken partly to avoid the censure of being a drug user, ironically, a DVT led to long-standing stigmata that were discrediting signs of that exact status

Anxiety · Feeling · Groin · Psychiatry · Worry · Atrial Fibrillation Management and Outcomes · Intramuscular injections and effects · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Venous Thromboembolism Diagnosis and Management · Surgery

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