"It gives me a sense of belonging": providing integrated health care and treatment to people with HCV engaged in a psycho-educational support group.

Background: Injection drug use (IDU) increases the risk of contracting hepatitis C virus (HCV) yet very few people living with HCV access effective, and potentially curative, treatments. The East Toronto Hepatitis C Program (ETHCP) was developed in 2006 and provides health care, treatment and support to people living with HCV who have complex mental health, physical health and psychosocial needs. The program is anchored in a 16-18 week psychosocial support group located within one of the 3 participating community-based health clinics.

Acute and chronic respiratory symptoms among primary care patients who smoke crack cocaine.

Among inner-city populations in Canada, the use of crack cocaine by inhalation is prevalent. Crack smoking is associated with acute respiratory symptoms and complications, but less is known about chronic respiratory problems related to crack smoking. There is also a gap in the literature addressing the management of respiratory disease in primary health care among people who smoke crack.

"Building through the grief": vicarious trauma in a group of inner-city family physicians.

Background: Vicarious trauma is an understudied phenomenon among Canadian family physicians.

Objective: This phenomenological study set out to explore the experiences of a group of inner-city family physicians caring for women using illicit drugs.

Methods: Ten family physicians working in Toronto and Ottawa, Canada, participated in in-depth interviews.

'Meeting people where they're at': experiences of family physicians engaging women who use illicit drugs.

Purpose: There is little research exploring the experiences of family physicians caring for women who use illicit drugs. This study explores the experiences of these physicians in order to better understand the process of engaging these women in the patient-physician relationship.

Methods: We conducted a phenomenologic, qualitative study using individual, in-depth interviews with 10 family physicians working in inner-city Toronto and Ottawa, Ontario.

Women marginalized by poverty and violence. How patient-physician relationships can help.

Objective: To explore the experiences of women relegated to the margins of society by poverty or violence.

Design: Qualitative method of focus groups.

Setting: Shelters and transitional housing in southwestern Ontario.