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Preston R, Christmass M, Lim E, McGough S, Heslop K. Diagnostic Overshadowing of Chronic Hepatitis C in People With Mental Health Conditions Who Inject Drugs: A Scoping Review. Int J Ment Health Nurs 2024. [PMID: 39101240 DOI: 10.1111/inm.13396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Diagnostic overshadowing refers to a phenomenon whereby people with mental health conditions encounter inadequate or delayed medical attention and misdiagnosis. This occurs when physical symptoms are mistakenly attributed to their mental health condition. This paper presents a scoping review focusing on direct causes and background factors of diagnostic overshadowing in the context of hepatitis C infection in people who inject drugs and have concurrent mental health conditions. Despite significant strides in hepatitis C treatment with direct-acting antiviral drugs, the complex interplay of mental health conditions and physical symptoms necessitates a nuanced approach for accurate diagnosis and effective screening. This review was conducted using Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology for scoping reviews. The databases searched included Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, Global Health, CINAHL and Scopus. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The search strategies identified 1995 records. Overall, 166 studies were excluded. Forty-two (42) studies met the inclusion criteria. Three (n = 3) studies represented direct causes, and 39 (n = 39) with background factors related to diagnostic overshadowing. Studies highlighted six key themes encompassing diagnostic overshadowing, with communication barriers, stigma and knowledge deficiencies being the most prominent. Recognising and addressing diagnostic overshadowing in chronic hepatitis C will lead to increased screening, diagnosis and timely administration of life-saving antiviral therapy, resulting in profound enhancements in well-being and health outcomes. Moreover, this proactive approach will play a pivotal role in advancing the global effort towards eliminating hepatitis C by 2030.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regan Preston
- Curtin School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Michael Christmass
- Curtin Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Eric Lim
- Curtin School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Shirley McGough
- Curtin School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Karen Heslop
- Curtin School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
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Howie CM, Cichos KH, Shoreibah MG, Jordan EM, Niknam KR, Chen AF, Hansen EN, McGwin GG, Ghanem ES. Racial Disparities in Treatment and Outcomes of Patients With Hepatitis C Undergoing Elective Total Joint Arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty 2024; 39:1671-1678. [PMID: 38331360 DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2024.01.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND African Americans have the highest prevalence of chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Racial disparities in outcome are observed after elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study sought to identify if disparities in treatments and outcomes exist between Black and White patients who have HCV prior to elective THA and TKA. METHODS Patient demographics, comorbidities, HCV characteristics, perioperative variables, in-hospital outcomes, and postoperative complications at 1-year follow-up were collected and compared between the 2 races. Patients who have preoperative positive viral load (PVL) and undetectable viral load were identified. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare categorical variables, while 2-tailed Student's Kruskal-Wallis t-tests were used for continuous variables. A P value of less than .05 was statistically significant. RESULTS The liver function parameters, including aspartate aminotransferase and model for end-stage liver disease scores, were all higher preoperatively in Black patients undergoing THA (P = .01; P < .001) and TKA (P = .03; P = .003), respectively. Black patients were more likely to undergo THA (65.8% versus 35.6%; P = .002) and TKA (72.1% versus 37.3%; 0.009) without receiving prior treatment for HCV. Consequently, Black patients had higher rates of preoperative PVL compared to White patients in both THA (66% versus 38%, P = .006) and TKA (72% versus 37%, P < .001) groups. Black patients had a longer length of stay for both THA (3.7 versus 3.3; P = .008) and TKA (4.1 versus 3.0; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS The HCV treatment prior to THA and TKA with undetectable viral load has been shown to be a key factor in mitigating postoperative complications, including joint infection. We noted that Black patients were more likely to undergo joint arthroplasty who did not receive treatment and with a PVL. While PVL rates decreased over time for both races, a significant gap persists for Black patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cole M Howie
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Kyle H Cichos
- Hughston Foundation, Columbus, Georgia; Hughston Clinic, Columbus, Georgia
| | - Mohamed G Shoreibah
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Eric M Jordan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kian R Niknam
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Antonia F Chen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Erik N Hansen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Gerald G McGwin
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Elie S Ghanem
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri at Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
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Wang MC, Bangaru S, Zhou K. Care for Vulnerable Populations with Chronic Liver Disease: A Safety-Net Perspective. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2725. [PMID: 37893800 PMCID: PMC10606794 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11202725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Safety-net hospitals (SNHs) and facilities are the cornerstone of healthcare services for the medically underserved. The burden of chronic liver disease-including end-stage manifestations of cirrhosis and liver cancer-is high and rising among populations living in poverty who primarily seek and receive care in safety-net settings. For many reasons related to social determinants of health, these individuals often present with delayed diagnoses and disease presentations, resulting in higher liver-related mortality. With recent state-based policy changes such as Medicaid expansion that impact access to insurance and critical health services, an overview of the body of literature on SNH care for chronic liver disease is timely and informative for the liver disease community. In this narrative review, we discuss controversies in the definition of a SNH and summarize the known disparities in the cascade of the care and management of common liver-related conditions: (1) steatotic liver disease, (2) liver cancer, (3) chronic viral hepatitis, and (4) cirrhosis and liver transplantation. In addition, we review the specific impact of Medicaid expansion on safety-net systems and liver disease outcomes and highlight effective provider- and system-level interventions. Lastly, we address remaining gaps and challenges to optimizing care for vulnerable populations with chronic liver disease in safety-net settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C Wang
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Saroja Bangaru
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Los Angeles General Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Kali Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Los Angeles General Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Research Center for Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
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Burraway J, Helbert B, Schexnayder J, Knick T, Dillingham R, Scherz C. Reliving it All Over Again: Uncanny Temporalities of Injection Drug Use and Hepatitis C Diagnosis in Southwest Virginia, USA. Med Anthropol 2023; 42:21-34. [PMID: 35944242 PMCID: PMC9822844 DOI: 10.1080/01459740.2022.2110090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Clinicians typically view the intersection between hepatitis C and injection drug use in terms of simultaneity - with transmission occurring via shared needles - or sequentially - with some states requiring that people stop using drugs prior to treatment. Yet, for patients, the connection between substance use and HCV infection can follow a more complex temporal pathway. In this article, we explore the non-linear temporality of "reliving" as it shapes HCV illness experience, its complex intersection with injection drug use, and the barriers patients face as they reckon with existing healthcare system responses and treatment modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bailey Helbert
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Julie Schexnayder
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Terry Knick
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Rebecca Dillingham
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - China Scherz
- Department of Anthropology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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Khalili M, Kim NJ, Tsoh JY, Walsh JME, Elizabeth Goldman L, Park H, Lau I, Wong C, Gildengorin G, Nguyen TT. Efficacy of a Primary Care-Based Mobile Application to Increase Hepatitis C Screening Among Asian Americans: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. Open Forum Infect Dis 2023; 10:ofad002. [PMID: 36726551 PMCID: PMC9887262 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening remains suboptimal. We assessed the efficacy of a mobile application and provider alert in enhancing HCV screening among Asian Americans. Methods A secondary analysis of a cluster-randomized clinical trial was performed during the birth cohort screening era to assess the efficacy of a Hepatitis App (intervention), a multilingual mobile application delivering interactive video education on viral hepatitis and creating a Provider Alert printout, at primary care clinics within 2 healthcare systems in San Francisco from 2015 to 2017. A comparison group received usual care and a similar intervention on nutrition and physical activity. The outcome was electronic health record (EHR) documentation of HCV screening along with patient-provider communication about testing and test ordering. Results Four hundred fifty-two participants (mean age 57 years, 36% male, 80% foreign-born) were randomized by provider clusters to the intervention (n = 270) or comparison groups (n = 182). At 3-month follow up, the intervention group was more likely than the comparison group to be aware of HCV (75% vs 59%, P = .006), to discuss HCV testing with their providers (63% vs 13%, P < .001), to have HCV testing ordered (39% vs 10%, P < .001), and to have EHR-verified HCV testing (30% vs 6%, P < .001). Within the intervention group, being born between 1945 and 1965 (odds ratio, 3.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-7.32) was associated with increased HCV testing. Conclusions The Hepatitis App delivered in primary care settings was effective in increasing HCV screening in a socioeconomically diverse Asian American cohort. This highlights the importance of mobile technology as a patient-centered strategy to address gaps in HCV care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandana Khalili
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Nicole J Kim
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Janice Y Tsoh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Judith M E Walsh
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - L Elizabeth Goldman
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Helen Park
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Ivy Lau
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Ching Wong
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Ginny Gildengorin
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Tung T Nguyen
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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Innovations in education: A prospective study of storytelling narratives to enhance hepatitis C virus knowledge among substance users. World J Hepatol 2022. [DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v14.i5.973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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Talal AH, Ding YX, Markatou M. Innovations in education: A prospective study of storytelling narratives to enhance hepatitis C virus knowledge among substance users. World J Hepatol 2022; 14:972-983. [PMID: 35721284 PMCID: PMC9157714 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v14.i5.972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Even though substance users have the highest hepatitis C virus (HCV) burden, many lack knowledge about the infection. Lack of knowledge is an important obstacle to pursuing HCV care. Although printed materials are conventionally utilized to disseminate HCV-related knowledge, narrative story-telling videos may be an alternative. Data are extremely limited, however, in the ability of storytelling videos to increase HCV knowledge among substance users. In this study, we hypothesized that a story-telling narrative video would increase substance user’s immediate and 1-month HCV-related knowledge compared to a printed format.
AIM To assess immediate and 1-month HCV-related knowledge retention among substance users comparing education delivered via a storytelling narrative video compared to a printed format.
METHODS We conducted a prospective matched, case-control study among substance users actively prescribed buprenorphine enrolled from two sites. The intervention site received the video and the control site, the brochure. Participants (n = 176) were matched on age, gender, and race. We obtained extensive patient and stakeholder input on the video’s design, validated the video’s content, and developed a recruitment plan to guide participant enrollment. Knowledge was assessed by administration of a 25-item instrument immediately before, immediately after, or one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using nonparametric and generalized linear mixed-effects models.
RESULTS We recruited a total of 176 substance users, 90 and 86 individuals, from each site, respectively. One-month follow up occurred in 92% and 94% of enrollees in the control and intervention groups, respectively. In comparison with the pre-intervention scores, immediate knowledge recall increased significantly for both the intervention (P < 0.0001) and control (P < 0.0001) groups. Multivariate modeling revealed a significant improvement in HCV-related knowledge and retention (P = 0.033) among participants who viewed the storytelling video.
CONCLUSION Storytelling narratives emphasizing HCV education appear to be an effective method to increase HCV-related knowledge among substance users. They should become an educational cornerstone to promote HCV management among this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew H Talal
- Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, United States
| | - Yu-Xin Ding
- Department of Biostatistics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, United States
| | - Marianthi Markatou
- Department of Biostatistics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, United States
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Partida D, Powell J, Ricco M, Naugle J, Magee C, Zevin B, Masson CL, Fokuo JK, Gonzalez D, Khalili M. Formal Hepatitis C education increases willingness to receive therapy in an onsite shelter-based HCV model of care in persons experiencing homelessness. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 9:ofac103. [PMID: 35369281 PMCID: PMC8968162 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
To evaluate the effectiveness of formal Hepatitis C (HCV) education on engagement in therapy in persons experiencing homelessness in an onsite shelter-based model of care. As policies to eliminate Medicaid access restrictions to HCV treatment are expanded, patient education is paramount to achieving HCV elimination targets in difficult to engage populations including persons experiencing homelessness.
Methods
This prospective study was conducted at four shelters in San Francisco and Minneapolis from August 2018 to January 2021. Of the 162 HCV Ab positive participants, 150 participated in a 30-minute HCV education session. Post-education changes in knowledge, beliefs, barriers to care and willingness to accept therapy scores were assessed.
Results
Following education, knowledge scores (mean change 4.4 ± 4.4, p<0.001) and willingness to accept therapy (70% to 86% p=0.0002) increased. Perceived barriers to HCV care decreased (mean change -0.8 ± 5.2 p=0.001). Higher baseline knowledge was associated with lesser gain in knowledge following education (coef. -0.7, p<0.001). Post-education knowledge (OR 1.2, p=0.008) was associated with willingness to accept therapy.
Conclusions
An HCV educational intervention successfully increased willingness to engage in HCV therapy in persons experiencing homelessness in an onsite shelter-based HCV model of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Partida
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A
| | | | | | - Jessica Naugle
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, Street Medicine and Shelter Health, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A
| | - Catherine Magee
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A
| | - Barry Zevin
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, Street Medicine and Shelter Health, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A
| | - Carmen L Masson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A
| | - J Konadu Fokuo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A
| | - Daniel Gonzalez
- University of California San Francisco Liver Center, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A. Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A
| | - Mandana Khalili
- University of California San Francisco Liver Center, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A. Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A
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Ullah S, Ali S, Daud M, Paudyal V, Hayat K, Hamid SM, Ur-rehman T. Illness perception about hepatitis C virus infection: a cross-sectional study from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. BMC Infect Dis 2022; 22:74. [PMID: 35062889 PMCID: PMC8783479 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07055-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a debilitating chronic health problem and can be fatal if left untreated. Illness perceptions are self-manifested beliefs that influence the ability of individuals to cope with their disease and perceive it as manageable or threatening condition. Limited evidence is available from low resource settings regarding patient perception about HCV. In this study, we aimed to assess the perception of individuals with HCV, the impact of their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics on their HCV perception, and its link to patient-oriented treatment outcomes. Methods A cross-sectional survey was undertaken enrolling individuals with HCV who attended Hepatitis C clinics at two hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Illness perception was measured using Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ). Descriptive statistics, Kruskal Wallis tests and Mann Whitney U tests were performed to study patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and to analyze the questionnaire results. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess determinants associated with perception scores. Results Participants represented poor HCV perception and their overall mean BIPQ score was 43.35, SD = 13.15. Participants had a low degree of understanding about their illness (mean coherence score = 2.92, SD = 1.85). Individuals with more than four years, compared to less than one year, of estimated HCV infection were more likely to view that their illness would continue (mean timeline score = 6.27, SD = 2.50 versus 5.36, SD = 2.53; respectively, p < 0.01). Similarly, individuals with hepatic cirrhosis, compared to without, were more likely to attribute symptoms to their disease (mean identity score = 5.48, SD = 2.14 versus 4.89, SD = 2.38; respectively, p = 0.04). Female participants reported higher degrees at which the illness affected them emotionally (i.e., emotional representation) and lower coherence about HCV than males (p = 0.04 and 0.006, respectively). Individuals who did not achieve sustained virological response 24 weeks after treatment with interferon-based therapy, compared to treatment naïve individuals, reported lower trust in being successfully treated with newer anti-HCV agents (i.e., direct acting antivirals) (p = 0.029). However, multivariable linear regression revealed that no sociodemographic or clinical determinants were associated with a higher BIPQ score (i.e., more threatening, or negative perceptions). Conclusion Individuals with HCV in Pakistan generally report threatening or negative views about HCV infection. Lack of trust in treatment efficacy was also apparent, especially in those who experienced failed anti-HCV treatments in the past. Healthcare professionals should consider these perceptions when treating individuals with HCV to optimize their compliance by aligning their perception with the high effectiveness of current anti-HCV therapies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-022-07055-5.
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Barnhart DA, Kamali I, Nyirahabihirwe F, Mugabo C, Gakuru JDLP, Uwase M, Nizeyumuremyi E, Musafiri T, Gatete JDD, Makuza JD, Kateera F, Hedt-Gauthier B, Ndahimana JD. Knowledge among patients with Hepatitis C initiating on direct-acting antiviral treatment in rural Rwanda: A prospective cohort study. Glob Health Action 2021; 14:1953250. [PMID: 34347569 PMCID: PMC8344237 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2021.1953250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Curative direct-acting antiviral treatment (DAA) has made it plausible to implement hepatitis C elimination interventions. However, poor hepatitis C knowledge among patients could impede the effectiveness of screening and treatment programs. Objective We assessed knowledge on hepatitis C among rural Rwandans initiating DAA treatment for hepatitis C in a prospective cohort. Methods We administered 15 true-false statements before treatment initiation and during one follow-up visit occurring either 1 or 2 months after treatment initiation. We assessed the average number of correct responses per patient, the proportion of correct responses to individual statements, pre-treatment predictors of knowledge, and whether post-initiation knowledge was associated with time since treatment initiation, quality of care, or adherence. Results Among 333 patients who answered knowledge questions before treatment initiation, 325 (97.6%) were re-assessed at a post-initiation visit. Pre-initiation, 72.1% knew hepatitis C was curable, 61.9% knew that hepatitis C could cause liver damage or cancer, and 42.3% knew that people with hepatitis C could look and feel fine. The average number of correct responses was 8.1 out of 15 (95% CI: 7.8–8.5), but was significantly lower among those with low educational attainment or with low literacy. Post-initiation, correct responses increased by an average of 2.0 statements (95% CI: 1.6, 2.4, p-value <0.001). Many patients still mistakenly believed that hepatitis C could be transmitted through kissing (66.5%), eating utensils (44.1%), handshakes (34.8%), and hugs (34.8%). Post-initiation knowledge is inversely associated with self-reported quality of care and unassociated with self-reported adherence. Conclusion Although knowledge improved over time, key gaps persisted among patients. Accessible public education campaigns targeted to low-literacy populations emphasizing that hepatitis C can be asymptomatic, has severe consequences, and is curable could promote participation in mass screening campaigns and linkage to care. Visual tools could facilitate clinician-provided patient education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale A Barnhart
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Partners In Health-Rwanda/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Rwinkwavu, Rwanda
| | - Innocent Kamali
- Partners In Health-Rwanda/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Rwinkwavu, Rwanda
| | | | - Carol Mugabo
- Partners In Health-Rwanda/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Rwinkwavu, Rwanda
| | | | - Mariam Uwase
- Partners In Health-Rwanda/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Rwinkwavu, Rwanda
| | | | | | | | - Jean Damascene Makuza
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,STIs and OBBI Division, Rwanda Biomedical Center, HIV/AIDS, Kigali, Rwanda
| | | | - Bethany Hedt-Gauthier
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Knowledge, attitude and psychological status of patients living with hepatitis C in five provinces in China: a cross-sectional survey. BMJ Open 2021. [PMCID: PMC8039223 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective This study investigated the knowledge, attitudes and psychological status of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive patients through a cross-sectional survey to provide scientific strategies for improving their treatment compliance and quality of life. Setting The research was conducted in nine hospitals in five provincial administrative regions in China, namely Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Beijing, Hebei and Sichuan. Participants A total of 457 patients were recruited for this study and 409 patients were included in the final analysis. The participants were 215 men and 194 women, with an average age of 59 years. Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcomes were scores on scales assessing knowledge, attitudes and psychological status. The secondary outcomes were transmission of HCV, preference regarding the mode in which information about HCV was provided and factors affecting treatment. Results Blood transfusion was the most common route of HCV transmission (42.7%), followed by surgery (15.9%) and blood donation/sale (8.7%). The misunderstanding of HCV and negative attitudes towards other HCV-positive patients were relatively common among HCV-positive patients and were more pronounced among rural and ethnic minority populations. HCV-positive patients were generally categorised as possibly having symptoms of depression. Patients with negative attitudes were more likely to have symptoms of depression (OR=0.6, 95% CI 0.4 to 0.8). Conclusions HCV-positive patients had a poor understanding of HCV and a negative attitude towards other HCV-positive patients. It is very important to develop effective health education strategies to improve the knowledge, attitudes and mental health of HCV-positive patients and enhance treatment compliance.
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12
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Yang N, Muir A. Coordination, Cost, and Changing Epidemiology-Considerations in the Hepatitis C Care Cascade. Hepatol Commun 2021; 5:355-357. [PMID: 33681671 PMCID: PMC7917277 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This editorial reviews two articles in hepatology communications addressing challenges in the hepatitis C care cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Yang
- Duke University School of MedicineDurhamNCUSA
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13
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Hachey DM, Holmes JT, Aubuchon-Endsley NL. Hepatitis C Treatment Cascade in a Federally Qualified Health Center. J Community Health 2021; 45:264-268. [PMID: 31512110 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-019-00736-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C (HCV) care cascades have been described in diverse clinical settings, patient populations and countries, highlighting the steps in HCV care where improvements can be made and resources allocated. However, more research is needed to examine barriers to HCV treatment in rural, underserved populations and in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). As part of a quality improvement (QI) project, this study aimed to describe and evaluate the HCV treatment cascade in an FQHC serving a large rural patient population in the Western United States. Standardized chart abstraction was utilized to aggregate data regarding patient demographics, the percentage of patients achieving each step in the treatment cascade, and relevant patient (i.e., viral load) and service variables (i.e., whether and when patients received treatment or medication). 389 patients were identified as having HCV and 86% were aware of their diagnosis. Fifty-five percent had their infection confirmed via viral load, 21% were staged for liver disease, 24% received a prescription for treatment, and 19% achieved cure. Compared to national data, the current regional sample had greater rates of diagnosis awareness and access to care, as well as sustained virologic response (SVR), but lower rates of viral load confirmation. Current findings suggest that rural patients living with HCV who receive care at FQHCs struggle to navigate the treatment cascade and achieve a cure, particularly with regard to infection confirmation, liver staging, and prescription. However, compared to national estimates, patients had greater rates of diagnosis awareness/treatment access and SVR.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Hachey
- Department of Family Medicine, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Ave. Stop, Pocatello, ID, 83209, USA.
| | - John T Holmes
- Department of Family Medicine, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Ave. Stop, Pocatello, ID, 83209, USA
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Pollio DE, North CS, Sims OT, Hong BA. HEPATITIS C PSYCHOEDUCATION CURRICULUM TOPICS GENERATED BY GROUP MEMBERS. SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS 2020; 44:83-90. [PMID: 38274393 PMCID: PMC10810246 DOI: 10.1080/01609513.2020.1815631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- David E Pollio
- The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Social Work, College of Arts and Sciences, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Carol S North
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Omar T Sims
- The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Social Work, College of Arts and Sciences, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Barry A Hong
- Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, St. Louis, MO, USA
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15
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A Patient-Centered Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Educational Intervention Improves HBV Care Among Underserved Safety-Net Populations. J Clin Gastroenterol 2020; 54:642-647. [PMID: 31688365 PMCID: PMC7744280 DOI: 10.1097/mcg.0000000000001276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
GOALS To evaluate the impact of a prospective patient-centered hepatitis B virus (HBV) educational intervention on improving HBV care. BACKGROUND Improving patients' HBV knowledge has the potential to improve adherence to HBV monitoring and management, particularly among underserved safety-net populations. METHODS Consecutive chronic HBV adults at a single-center safety-net liver clinic were recruited from July 2017 to July 2018 to evaluate the impact of an in-person, language concordant formal HBV educational intervention on improvements in HBV knowledge and HBV management: appropriate HBV clinic follow-up (≥1 visit/year), HBV laboratory monitoring (≥1 HBV viral load and alanine aminotransferase test/year), hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance (≥1 liver imaging test/year among eligible patients), and HBV treatment among treatment eligible patients. HBV knowledge and management were assessed before and after the intervention and compared with age-matched and sex-matched HBV controls who did not receive an education. RESULTS Among 102 patients with chronic HBV (54.9% men; mean age, 52.0±13.8), HBV education improved HBV knowledge scores by 25% (P<0.001), HBV clinic follow-up from 25.5% to 81.4% (P<0.001), HBV laboratory monitoring from 62.8% to 77.5% (P=0.02), and appropriate HBV treatment from 71.5% to 98.5% (P<0.001). Compared with 102 HBV controls, receiving HBV education was associated with higher rates of HBV clinic follow-up (81.4% vs. 39.2%; odds ratio, 7.02; 95% confidence interval, 3.64-13.56; P<0.001) and appropriate HBV laboratory monitoring (77.5% vs. 42.2%; odds ratio, 4.94, 95% confidence interval, 2.64-9.24; P<0.001). CONCLUSION A formal, in-person, language concordant educational intervention leads to significant improvements in HBV knowledge, resulting in improved HBV monitoring and appropriate HBV treatment.
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16
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Bartholomew TS, Tookes HE, Serota DP, Behrends CN, Forrest DW, Feaster DJ. Impact of routine opt-out HIV/HCV screening on testing uptake at a syringe services program: An interrupted time series analysis. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2020; 84:102875. [PMID: 32731112 PMCID: PMC8814936 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Background: Hepatitis C (HCV) is the most common infectious disease among people who inject drugs (PWID). Engaging PWID in harm reduction services, such as syringe service programs (SSPs), is critical to reduce HCV and HIV transmission. Additionally, testing for HIV and HCV among PWID is important to improve diagnosis and linkage to care. On March 1, 2018, Florida’s only legal SSP implemented bundled opt-out HIV/HCV testing at enrollment. We aimed to examine the differences in HIV/HCV testing uptake before and after the implementation of the opt-out testing policy. Methods: Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess predictors of accepting HIV/HCV tests, controlling for opt-in and opt-out policy. Monthly estimates of the percent of participants accepting an HIV test, HCV test, or both were generated. Interrupted Time Series (ITS) analysis evaluated the immediate policy impact on level of uptake and trend in uptake over time for bundled HIV/HCV testing before and after the opt-out testing policy. Results: The total study period was 37 months between December 2016–January 2020 with 512 SSP participants 15 months prior and 547 SSP participants 22 months after implementation of bundled HIV/HCV opt-out testing. Significant predictors of accepting both HIV/HCV tests were cocaine injection (aOR = 2.36), self-reported HIV positive status (aOR = 0.39) and self-reported HCV positive status (aOR = 0.27). Based on the ITS results, there was a significant increase in uptake of HIV/HCV testing by 42.4% (95% CI: 26.2%–58.5%, p < 0.001) immediately after the policy change to opt-out testing. Conclusion: Bundled opt-out HIV/HCV testing substantially increased the percentage of SSP clients who received HIV and HCV rapid tests at enrollment into the program, and the effect remained stable across the 22 months post opt-out testing policy. Future investigation must assess PWID-level perspective of testing preferences and examine whether this testing approach improves HIV/HCV detection among PWID previously unaware of their status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler S Bartholomew
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Hansel E Tookes
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - David P Serota
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Czarina N Behrends
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - David W Forrest
- Department of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Daniel J Feaster
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
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17
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McCombe G, Almaazmi B, Cullen W, Lambert JS, Avramovic G, Murphy C, O'Connor M, Perry N, Ianache I, Lazar S, McHugh T, Surey J, Macías J, Vickerman P, Oprea C. Integrating primary and secondary care to optimize hepatitis C treatment: development and evaluation of a multidisciplinary educational Masterclass series. J Antimicrob Chemother 2020; 74:v24-v30. [PMID: 31782501 PMCID: PMC6883391 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkz453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background It is increasingly being recognized that the elimination of HCV requires a multidisciplinary approach and effective cooperation between primary and secondary care. Objectives As part of a project (HepCare Europe) to integrate primary and secondary care for patients at risk of or infected with HCV, we developed a multidisciplinary educational Masterclass series for healthcare professionals (HCPs) working in primary care in Dublin and Bucharest. This article aims to describe and evaluate the series and examine how this model might be implemented into practice. Methods GPs and other HCPs working in primary care, addiction treatment services and NGOs were invited to eight 1 day symposia (HCV Masterclass series), examining the burden and management of HCV in key populations. Peer-support sessions were also conducted, to give people affected by HCV and community-based organizations working with those directly affected, an update on the latest developments in HCV treatment. Results One hundred percent of participants ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that the Masterclass helped them to appreciate the role of integrated services in ‘the management of patients with HCV’. One hundred percent of participants indicated the importance of a ‘designated nurse to liaise with hospital services’. An improvement of knowledge regarding HCV management of patients with high-risk behaviour was registered at the end of the course. Conclusions Integrated approaches to healthcare and improving the knowledge of HCPs and patients of the latest developments in HCV treatment are very important strategies that can enhance the HCV care pathway and treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - John S Lambert
- UCD School of Medicine, Dublin, Ireland.,Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Carol Murphy
- Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Nicola Perry
- Community Response Primary Alcohol and Hepatitis C Service, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Irina Ianache
- Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Stefan Lazar
- Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania.,Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Tina McHugh
- Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Julian Surey
- Institute of Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Juan Macías
- Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Unit, Hospital Universitario de Valme, Seville, Spain
| | - Peter Vickerman
- School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Cristiana Oprea
- Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania.,Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
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18
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Kopp Z, Miller L, Turbow S. Pretreatment Assessment of Psychosocial Readiness Is Not Associated with Improved Treatment Outcomes in a Safety-Net HCV Treatment Clinic. South Med J 2020; 113:261-266. [PMID: 32483634 DOI: 10.14423/smj.0000000000001099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is highly curable with antiviral therapy, and traditionally, treatment adherence has been critical for treatment success. We sought to determine whether assessing HCV treatment readiness with a structured treatment readiness tool was associated with increased rates of adherence and cure among patients at a safety-net HCV clinic. METHODS We administered the Psychosocial Readiness Evaluation and Preparation for HCV Treatment (PREP-C) tool to 50 patients and compared them with 50 patients who received the usual care. The outcome measures included achievement of treatment milestones (eg, adherence to treatment, clinic visit attendance) and sustained virologic response (cure). RESULTS We found no association between receiving the PREP-C assessment and outcomes, including referral to or starting HCV treatment, adherence to treatment, and HCV cure. CONCLUSIONS We found that receiving the PREP-C assessment did not improve treatment outcomes, suggesting that targeted pretreatment assessment is unnecessary even in a medically and psychosocially complex population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoë Kopp
- From the Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, and the Department of Medicine, Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Lesley Miller
- From the Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, and the Department of Medicine, Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Sara Turbow
- From the Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, and the Department of Medicine, Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
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19
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Fokuo JK, Masson CL, Anderson A, Powell J, Bush D, Ricco M, Zevin B, Ayala C, Khalili M. Recommendations for Implementing Hepatitis C Virus Care in Homeless Shelters: The Stakeholder Perspective. Hepatol Commun 2020; 4:646-656. [PMID: 32363316 PMCID: PMC7193125 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Compared with the general population, homeless individuals are at higher risk of hepatitis C infection (HCV) and may face unique barriers in receipt of HCV care. This study sought the perspectives of key stakeholders toward establishing a universal HCV screening, testing, and treatment protocol for individuals accessing homeless shelters. Four focus groups were conducted with homeless shelter staff, practice providers, and social service outreach workers (n = 27) in San Francisco, California, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Focus groups evaluated key societal, system, and individual-level facilitators and barriers to HCV testing and management. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed thematically. The societal-level barriers identified were lack of insurance, high-out-of-pocket expenses, restriction of access to HCV treatment due to active drug and/or alcohol use, and excessive paperwork required for HCV treatment authorization from payers. System-level barriers included workforce constraints and limited health care infrastructure, HCV stigma, low knowledge of HCV treatment, and existing shelter policies. At the individual level, client barriers included competing priorities, behavioral health concerns, and health attitudes. Facilitators at the system level for HCV care service integration in the shelter setting included high acceptability and buy in, and linkage with social service providers. Conclusion: Despite societal, system, and individual-level barriers identified with respect to the scale-up of HCV services in homeless shelters, there was broad support from key stakeholders for increasing capacity for the provision of HCV services in shelter settings. Recommendations for the scale-up of HCV services in homeless shelter settings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Konadu Fokuo
- Department of Psychiatry University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA
| | - Carmen L Masson
- Department of Psychiatry University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA
| | - August Anderson
- Department of Medicine Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA
| | | | - Dylan Bush
- Department of Medicine Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA
| | | | - Barry Zevin
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, Street Medicine and Shelter Health San Francisco CA
| | - Claudia Ayala
- Department of Medicine Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA
| | - Mandana Khalili
- Department of Medicine Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA
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20
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Abstract
Despite ambitious goals to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the United States by 2030, the majority of those infected are not aware of their diagnosis, and only a small minority have been cured. A lack of knowledge regarding risk factors and treatment may contribute to low cure rates. We aimed to evaluate HCV knowledge and the association of risk factor knowledge with HCV incidence. In fall 2017, a survey regarding HCV knowledge was disseminated through social media, web link, and in person throughout the state of Virginia. The survey was completed by 613 individuals. Residents of high-incidence counties identified fewer risk factors (5.6 vs 6.1 of 9, p = 0.04), a difference that remained significant when controlling for education and age (p = 0.03). Fewer participants in the high-incidence group recognized snorting drugs to be a risk factor (25% vs 36%, p = 0.01). Only 38% of all respondents correctly identified HCV to be curable. Knowledge of HCV risk factors is lower in high incidence regions. These results identify a critical knowledge gap in the general population at a time of ongoing HCV transmission. Public health interventions must target these gaps in high-incidence regions as part of comprehensive disease prevention programs.
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21
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Rosa-Hezode I, Chousterman M, Costes L, Labourdette C, Elghozi B, Krastinova E, Roudot-Thoraval F. Cascade of care for migrants tested Hepatitis C antibodies positive in France through a systematic screening programme: The PRECAVIR study. J Viral Hepat 2019; 26:1496-1499. [PMID: 31433886 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Migration of people from HCV endemic countries is a public health issue for the French healthcare system. The PRECAVIR study focused on migrant patients and provides a multidisciplinary, patient-centred approach to treat chronic HCV-infected migrants through a systematic screening programme. Between 2007 and 2017, 101 (2.98%) out of 3386 consecutive adult migrants attending two primary healthcare settings in Créteil, France, tested positive for HCV. The median age was 44.5 years old, and 55% were women. Patients were mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia. Seventy-four patients were undocumented migrants, and 25 were asylum seekers. Eighty-four (83%) patients were unaware of their serological status. All patients were offered referral to a specialist in the same setting. HCV RNA testing was performed in 88 (87%) of the patients who tested anti-HCV positive. Forty-nine (57%) were chronically infected, while 39 (43%) had an undetectable viral load. All patients were treatment-naïve. More than half of patients had access to treatment. Before 2014, thirteen patients were treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, and an SVR was achieved in 8 (61.5%) of them. By 2017, 17 patients had begun oral, direct-acting antiviral treatment. An SVR was achieved in 16 of 17 patients (93%). However, all patients not initially eligible for treatment were lost to follow-up. This study showed the effectiveness of a coordinated care network when anti-HCV testing, linkage to care and treatment are organized for a migrant population in the same setting as long as universal treatment makes a test and treat policy possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Rosa-Hezode
- Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Service d'Hépatogastroentérologie, Créteil, France
| | | | - Laurent Costes
- Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Service d'Hépatogastroentérologie, Créteil, France
| | | | - Bernard Elghozi
- Réseau de santé de Créteil Solidarité, Créteil, France.,Permanence d'Accès aux Soins de Santé externe, Créteil, France
| | - Evguenia Krastinova
- Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Permanence d'Accès aux Soins de Santé, Créteil, France.,Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Centre gratuit d'information de dépistage et de diagnostic, Créteil, France
| | - Françoise Roudot-Thoraval
- AP-HP, CHU Henri Mondor, Service de Santé Publique, Créteil, France.,AP-HP, CHU Henri Mondor, Service d'Hépatogastroentérologie, Créteil, France
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22
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Akkuzu MZ, Sezgin O, Yaraş S, Özdoğan O, Yılmaz İ, Üçbilek E, Ateş F, Altıntaş E. Patients Lost after Anti-HCV-Positive Finding in a Tertiary Care University Hospital: Increased Awareness and Action is Necessary to Eradicate HCV. SISLI ETFAL HASTANESI TIP BULTENI 2019; 53:366-370. [PMID: 32377110 PMCID: PMC7192297 DOI: 10.14744/semb.2019.46656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Though there is a global effort to eradicate hepatitis C infection (HCV), several obstacles remain. Many patients infected with the virus are not detected or go untreated. The goal of this study was to identify any barriers to treatment and any difficulties contributing to the elimination of HCV infection at a tertiary care university hospital. METHODS This was a retrospective review. The hospital data system was searched for records of patients admitted to the hospital for any reason from between 2013 and 2018 who were screened for viral markers and determined to be anti-HCV positive. The follow-up performed was then analyzed. RESULTS Viral marker testing was requested for 65,853 patients during the study period. Of those, 64.735 (98.3%) were found to be anti-HCV negative and 1118 (1.7%) were anti-HCV positive. In all, 392 (35.06%) were detected in the gastroenterology department, 417 (37.3%) were patients in the infectious diseases department, and 309 (27.64%) were identified in other clinics, including emergency services, the blood bank, and others. There were 30/392 (7.65%) patients admitted to the gastroenterology clinic who declined a biopsy and/or treatment. In other clinics, 88/309 (28.5%) patients were identified who were not treated for HCV and not followed up because they were not referred to the related specialty department. CONCLUSION It was determined that there was a significant gap in referring patients to the appropriate specialized department following an anti-HCV positive finding and thus to appropriate follow-up and treatment programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Zanyar Akkuzu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey
| | - Orhan Sezgin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey
| | - Serkan Yaraş
- Department of Gastroenterology, Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey
| | - Osman Özdoğan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey
| | - İbrahim Yılmaz
- Department of Gastroenterology, Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey
| | - Enver Üçbilek
- Department of Gastroenterology, Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey
| | - Fehmi Ateş
- Department of Gastroenterology, Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey
| | - Engin Altıntaş
- Department of Gastroenterology, Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey
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Rockstroh JK, Yazdanpanah Y. HepCare Europe: a new user-friendly hepatitis C care service model. What have we learned? What are the remaining challenges? J Antimicrob Chemother 2019; 74:v2-v4. [PMID: 31782498 PMCID: PMC6883388 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkz447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Kurt Rockstroh
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Yazdan Yazdanpanah
- AP-HP, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, Infectious Diseases Department, Paris, France
- INSERM, IAME, UMR, Paris, France
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Race and Hepatitis C Care Continuum in an Underserved Birth Cohort. J Gen Intern Med 2019; 34:2005-2013. [PMID: 30238404 PMCID: PMC6816604 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-018-4649-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Birth cohort screening is recommended for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and underserved populations are disproportionally affected by HCV. Little is known about the influence of race on the HCV care continuum in this population. OBJECTIVE To assess the cascade of HCV care in a large racially diverse and underserved birth cohort. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study using electronic medical record data abstracted until August 31, 2017. PATIENTS 34,810 patients born between 1945 and 1965 engaged in primary care between October 1, 2014, and October 31, 2016, within the safety-net clinics of the San Francisco Health Network. MAIN MEASURES Rate of hepatitis C testing, hepatitis C treatment, and response to therapy. RESULTS Cohort characteristics were as follows: median age 59 years, 57.6% male, 25.5% White (20.6% Black, 17.7% Latino, 33.0% Asian/Pacific Islander (API), 2% other), and 32.6% preferred a non-English language. 99.7% had an HCV test (95.4% HCV antibody, 4.3% HCVRNA alone). Among HCV antibody-positive patients (N = 4587), 22.9% were not tested for confirmatory HCVRNA. Among viremic patients (N = 3673), 20.8% initiated HCV therapy, 90.6% achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) and 8.1% did not have a SVR test. HCV screening and treatment were highest in APIs (98.7 and 34.7% respectively; p < 0.001). Blacks had the highest chronic HCV rate (22.2%; p < 0.001). Latinos had the lowest SVR rate (81.3%; p = 0.01). On multivariable analysis, API race (vs White, OR 1.20; p = 0.001), presence of HIV co-infection (OR 1.58; p = 0.02), presence of chronic kidney disease (OR 0.47; p < 0.001), English (vs non-English) as preferred language (OR 0.54; p = 0.002), ALT (OR 0.39 per doubling; p < 0.001), and HCVRNA (OR 0.83 per 10-fold increase; p < 0.001) were associated with HCV treatment. CONCLUSIONS Despite near-universal screening, gaps in active HCV confirmation, treatment, and verification of cure were identified and influenced by race. Tailored interventions to engage and treat diverse and underserved populations with HCV infection are needed.
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25
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Roncero C, Ryan P, Littlewood R, Macías J, Ruiz J, Seijo P, Palma-Álvarez RF, Vega P. Practical steps to improve chronic hepatitis C treatment in people with opioid use disorder. Hepat Med 2018; 11:1-11. [PMID: 30613166 PMCID: PMC6307489 DOI: 10.2147/hmer.s187133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES People with a history of injecting drugs have high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and many have opioid use disorder (OUD). Modern HCV therapies with improved efficacy and tolerability are available, but access is often limited for this group, who may be underserved for health care and face social inequity. This work develops practical steps to improve HCV care in this population. METHODS Practical steps to improve HCV care in OUD populations were developed based on clinical experience from Spain, structured assessment of published evidence. RESULTS Options for improving care at engagement/screening stages include patient education programs, strong provider-patient relationship, peer support, and adoption of rapid effective screening tools. To facilitate work up/treatment, start options include simplified work up process, integration of HCV and OUD care, and continuous psychosocial support prior, during, and after HCV treatment. CONCLUSION It is important to plan on local basis to set up a joint integrated approach between specific drug treatment services and local points of HCV care. The elements for a specific integrated program should be chosen from options identified, including education services, peer input, organization to make HCV screening and treatment easier by co-location of services, and wider access to prescribing direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Roncero
- Psychiatric Service, University of Salamanca Health Care Complex, Institute of Biomedicine of Salamanca, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain,
| | - Pablo Ryan
- Internal Medicine Service, University Hospital Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain
- School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Gregorio Marañón Health Research Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Juan Macías
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Valme University Hospital, Seville, Spain
| | - Juan Ruiz
- Provincial Center of Drug Addiction, Malaga, Spain
| | - Pedro Seijo
- Addiction Treatment Center of Villamartín, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Raúl Felipe Palma-Álvarez
- Addiction and Dual Diagnosis Unit, Vall Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
- Psychiatry Service, Biomedical Research Networking Center for Mental Health Network, Vall Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
- Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pablo Vega
- Spanish Society of Dual Diagnosis, Bilbao, Spain
- Institute of Addictions, Madrid, Spain
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Wong WCW, Lo YR, Jiang S, Peng M, Zhu S, Kidd MR, Wang XC, Chan PL, Ong JJ. Improving the hepatitis cascade: assessing hepatitis testing and its management in primary health care in China. Fam Pract 2018; 35:731-737. [PMID: 29741661 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmy032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The study aimed to decentralize hepatitis testing and management services to primary care in China. METHODS A nationwide representative provider survey amongst community health centres (CHCs) using randomized stratified sampling methods was conducted between September and December 2015. One hundred and eighty CHCs and frontline primary care practitioners from 20 cities across three administrative regions of Western, Central and Eastern China were invited to participate. RESULTS One hundred and forty-nine clinicians-in-charge (79%), 1734 doctors and 1846 nurses participated (86%). Majority of CHCs (80%, 95% CI: 74-87) offered hepatitis B testing, but just over half (55%, 95% CI: 46-65) offered hepatitis C testing. The majority of doctors (87%) and nurses (85%) felt that there were benefits for providing hepatitis testing at CHCs. The major barriers for not offering hepatitis testing were lack of training (54%) and financial support (23%). Multivariate analysis showed that the major determinants for CHCs to offer hepatitis B and C testing were the number of nurses (AOR 1.1) and written policies for hepatitis B diagnosis (AOR 12.7-27.1), and for hepatitis B the availability of reproductive health service. CONCLUSIONS Primary care providers in China could play a pivotal role in screening, diagnosing and treating millions of people with chronic hepatitis B and C in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- William C W Wong
- University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Ying-Ru Lo
- Head of Mission and WHO Representative to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore
| | - Sunfang Jiang
- Department of General Practice, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Minghui Peng
- Department of General Practice, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shanzhu Zhu
- Department of General Practice, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Michael R Kidd
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada.,Southgate Institute for Health, Equity and Society, Flinders University, Australia
| | - Xia-Chun Wang
- National Center for AIDS/STD Prevention and Control, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Po-Lin Chan
- World Health Organization, Office of the Representative to China
| | - Jason J Ong
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.,Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Khalili M, Wong RJ. Underserved Does Not Mean Undeserved: Unfurling the HCV Care in the Safety Net. Dig Dis Sci 2018. [PMID: 30311153 DOI: 10.1007/12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The availability of the new generation of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has completely transformed the HCV therapeutic landscape. Current regimens provide pan-genotypic coverage that are of short duration, safer, and are highly effective than prior generations of HCV therapeutics. While data from clinical trials and real-world experience continue to demonstrate similar and high sustained virologic response (SVR) rates, the successful implementation of the HCV cascade-of-care including screening, confirmation of active infection, treatment initiation and successful completion of therapy among more challenging populations, such as the underserved populations who are also disproportionally affected by HCV, remains vital to HCV eradication efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandana Khalili
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Robert J Wong
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Alameda Health System, Highland Hospital, Oakland, CA, USA
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Abstract
The availability of the new generation of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has completely transformed the HCV therapeutic landscape. Current regimens provide pan-genotypic coverage that are of short duration, safer, and are highly effective than prior generations of HCV therapeutics. While data from clinical trials and real-world experience continue to demonstrate similar and high sustained virologic response (SVR) rates, the successful implementation of the HCV cascade-of-care including screening, confirmation of active infection, treatment initiation and successful completion of therapy among more challenging populations, such as the underserved populations who are also disproportionally affected by HCV, remains vital to HCV eradication efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandana Khalili
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Robert J. Wong
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Alameda Health System, Highland Hospital, Oakland, CA
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29
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Kim NJ, Magee C, Cummings C, Park H, Khalili M. Liver Disease Monitoring Practices After Hepatitis C Cure in the Underserved Population. Hepatol Commun 2018; 2:1274-1283. [PMID: 30288480 PMCID: PMC6167066 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent hepatitis C virus (HCV) guidelines recommend disease monitoring and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening in patients with advanced fibrosis after a sustained virologic response (SVR) with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. However, data on practice patterns in this setting is lacking. We aimed to characterize disease monitoring and HCC screening practices post-SVR in an underserved HCV-infected cohort. Records of 192 patients who received DAA therapy at the San Francisco safety-net health care system between January 2014 and January 2016 with ≥12 months of follow-up post-SVR were reviewed. Patient characteristics were median age 58 years, 61.5% men, 39.1% White (23.4% Black, 16.7% Latino, 16.2% Asian), 78.1% English proficient, 48.9% intravenous drug use, 53.2% alcohol use, and 41% advanced (F3 and F4) fibrosis (26.6% with decompensation, 11.4% with HCC). Median post-SVR follow-up time was 22 months. A higher proportion of patients with advanced fibrosis attended liver clinic visits (mean, 1.94 ± 2.03 versus 1.12 ± 1.09 visits; P = 0.014) and had liver imaging (41.4% versus 9.73%; P < 0.001) post-SVR, but there was no difference in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) testing (72.2% versus 66.4%; P = 0.40) compared to those without advanced fibrosis. However, 20% with advanced fibrosis had no HCC screening while 35% with no advanced fibrosis had liver imaging. Three patients with cirrhosis developed new HCC. Conclusion: Although the majority of patients with advanced fibrosis in this underserved cohort received post-SVR monitoring, gaps in HCC screening were identified and new cases of HCC occurred during a short follow-up. This highlights the importance of incorporating recently enhanced guidelines to optimize post-SVR monitoring, especially in difficult to engage populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole J. Kim
- Department of MedicineUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyZuckerberg San Francisco General HospitalSan FranciscoCA
| | - Catherine Magee
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyZuckerberg San Francisco General HospitalSan FranciscoCA
| | - Cassie Cummings
- Department of MedicineUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyZuckerberg San Francisco General HospitalSan FranciscoCA
| | - Helen Park
- Department of MedicineUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyZuckerberg San Francisco General HospitalSan FranciscoCA
| | - Mandana Khalili
- Department of MedicineUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyZuckerberg San Francisco General HospitalSan FranciscoCA
- Liver CenterUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCA
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30
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Tsai SM, Kao JT, Tsai YF. Illness trajectory of initial infection for patients with hepatitis C: A qualitative study. Nurs Health Sci 2018; 21:112-118. [PMID: 30251452 DOI: 10.1111/nhs.12568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2017] [Revised: 07/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about how the initial infection and diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) impacts a patient's experience of living with and adjusting to the disease. In the present qualitative, descriptive study, we explored the initial experiences of patients in Taiwan diagnosed with HCV. Eighteen participants were recruited from hepatology clinics of a teaching hospital in Taichung, Taiwan by purposive sampling. Data were collected via in-depth face-to-face interviews and analyzed by conventional content analysis. The core theme describing the illness trajectory was "Oasis in the desert". Two main themes described the participants' experiences and adjustment to the diagnosis of hepatitis C: "Getting lost in the journey" and "The calm after the storm". Our findings highlight the need for health-care providers to coordinate interactions between patients and multi-disciplinary teams to manage the integration of different treatment options. There is a demand for educational interventions and online information for patients and the general population, which could improve knowledge of HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Mei Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
| | - Jung-Ta Kao
- School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Fang Tsai
- School of Nursing, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.,Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.,Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Keelung, Keelung, Taiwan
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31
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Ochalek TA, Heil SH, Higgins ST, Badger GJ, Sigmon SC. A novel mHealth application for improving HIV and Hepatitis C knowledge in individuals with opioid use disorder: A pilot study. Drug Alcohol Depend 2018; 190:224-228. [PMID: 30056321 PMCID: PMC6446902 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
AIMS There is a critical need to reduce infectious disease transmission among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). Here we examine the ability of a novel, automated educational intervention, delivered via iPad in a single visit, to improve human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) knowledge among adults with OUD. METHODS Participants were 25 adults enrolled in a 12-week trial evaluating the efficacy of an Interim Buprenorphine Treatment for reducing illicit opioid use and other risk behaviors during delays to opioid treatment. Participants completed baseline HIV and HCV knowledge assessments with corrective feedback. They then completed an interactive HIV flipbook and HCV video followed by a second administration of the knowledge assessments. The knowledge assessments were repeated at post-intake Weeks 4 and 12. RESULTS At baseline, participants answered 69% and 65% of items correctly on the HIV and HCV assessments, respectively. The educational intervention was associated with significant increases in knowledge (86% and 86% correct on the HIV and HCV assessments, respectively; p's<.001). These improvements persisted throughout the study, with scores at Week 4 and 12 significantly greater than baseline (p's<.001). CONCLUSION This HIV+Hepatitis Education intervention was associated with significant and sustained improvements in knowledge of HIV + HCV transmission and risk behaviors in this vulnerable group of individuals with OUD. Given the continuing opioid epidemic, efforts are urgently needed to reduce HIV and HCV contraction and transmission among individuals with OUD. Mobile health educational interventions may offer a time- and cost-effective approach for addressing these risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor A Ochalek
- Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, University of Vermont, Rm 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect St., Burlington VT 05401, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Rm 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect St., Burlington VT 05401, USA.
| | - Sarah H Heil
- Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, University of Vermont, Rm 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect St., Burlington VT 05401, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Rm 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect St., Burlington VT 05401, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Rm 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect St., Burlington VT 05401, USA
| | - Stephen T Higgins
- Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, University of Vermont, Rm 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect St., Burlington VT 05401, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Rm 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect St., Burlington VT 05401, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Rm 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect St., Burlington VT 05401, USA
| | - Gary J Badger
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Vermont, Biostatistics Unit, 27 Hills Building, Rm 25D, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
| | - Stacey C Sigmon
- Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, University of Vermont, Rm 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect St., Burlington VT 05401, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Rm 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect St., Burlington VT 05401, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Rm 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect St., Burlington VT 05401, USA
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Samuel ST, Martinez AD, Chen Y, Markatou M, Talal AH. Hepatitis C virus knowledge improves hepatitis C virus screening practices among primary care physicians. World J Hepatol 2018; 10:319-328. [PMID: 29527267 PMCID: PMC5838450 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v10.i2.319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To understand the role of knowledge as a promoter of hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening among primary care physicians (PCP). METHODS A 45-item online questionnaire assessing knowledge of HCV natural history, risk factors, and treatment was distributed to 163 PCP. Logistic regression, adjusted for survey responses, assessed associations between PCP knowledge of HCV natural history and treatment and birth cohort (i.e., birth between 1945 and 1965) screening. Response stratification and weighting were used to account for nonresponse and to permit extension of responses to the entire survey population. Associations between various predictors including demographic characteristics, level of training, and HCV treatment experience and HCV knowledge were assessed. RESULTS Ninety-one individuals (55.8%) responded. Abnormal liver enzymes (49.4%), assessment of HCV-related risk factors (30.6%), and birth cohort membership (20%) were the leading HCV screening indications. Most PCP (64.7%) felt that the combination of risk-factor and birth cohort screening utilizing a self-administered survey while awaiting the physician (55.3%) were the most efficient screening practices. Implementation of birth cohort screening was associated with awareness of the recommendations (P-value = 0.01), knowledge of HCV natural history (P-value < 0.01), and prior management of HCV patients (P-value < 0.01). PCP with knowledge of HCV treatment was also knowledgeable about HCV natural history (P-value < 0.01). Similarly, awareness of age-based screening recommendations was associated with HCV treatment knowledge (P-value = 0.03). CONCLUSION Comprehensive knowledge of HCV is critical to motivate HCV screening. PCP-targeted educational interventions are required to expand the HCV workforce and linkage-to-care opportunities as we seek global HCV eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep T Samuel
- Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, United States
| | - Anthony D Martinez
- Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, United States
| | - Yang Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, United States
| | - Marianthi Markatou
- Department of Biostatistics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, United States
| | - Andrew H Talal
- Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, United States
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Beck KR, Kim NJ, Khalili M. Direct Acting Antivirals Improve HCV Treatment Initiation and Adherence Among Underserved African Americans. Ann Hepatol 2018; 17:413-418. [PMID: 29735789 PMCID: PMC7058131 DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0011.7385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIM Adherence to hepatitis C (HCV) care was suboptimal in the interferon era among underserved African Americans (AA), but adherence data in the era of direct acting antivirals (DAA) is lacking in this population. We aimed to evaluate the impact of DAA on HCV care in underserved AA. MATERIAL AND METHODS Clinical records of AAs undergoing HCV evaluation attending a safety net health system liver clinic were reviewed from 2006 to 2011 (pre-DAA), and January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016 (post-DAA). RESULTS 291 patients were identified (129 pre-DAA, and 162 post-DAA). Median age was 58, 66% were male, 91% had HCV genotype 1, and 70% had fibrosis ≥ stage 2. Post-DAA patients were older (60 vs. 53 years; p < 0.001), had higher rates of insurance (98 vs. 88%; p < 0.001), liver fibrosis ≥ stage 2 (77 vs. 61%; p = 0.048), ≥ 2 medical comorbidities (19 vs. 0.8%; p < 0.001), and median baseline log10 HCV RNA (6.07 vs. 5.81 IU/mL; p < 0.001), but lower median ALT (46 vs. 62 U/L; p < 0.001). Post-DAA, fewer patients were treatment ineligible (5.6 vs. 39%; p < 0.001) and more initiated therapy (71 vs. 8.5%; < 0.001), were adherent to HCV care (82 vs. 38%; p < 0.001), and achieved cure (95.7 vs. 63.6%, p < 0.001). Availability of DAA was independently associated with improved adherence to HCV care (OR 10.3, 95% CI 4.84-22.0). CONCLUSION Availability of DAA is associated with increased treatment eligibility, initiation, adherence to HCV care, and cure in HCV-infected underserved AAs; highlighting the critical role of access to DAA in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendall R. Beck
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nicole J. Kim
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mandana Khalili
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Liver Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Provider, Patient, and Practice Factors Shape Hepatitis B Prevention and Management by Primary Care Providers. J Clin Gastroenterol 2017; 51:626-631. [PMID: 27811627 PMCID: PMC5413438 DOI: 10.1097/mcg.0000000000000738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
GOALS To evaluate provider knowledge, attitudes and barriers to hepatitis B virus (HBV) care and management practices across diverse primary care settings. BACKGROUND Factors influencing adherence to recommended HBV screening and management guidelines are poorly defined. MATERIALS AND METHODS Providers across various health care settings in San Francisco were surveyed. Multivariate analyses were used to identify factors associated with recommended HBV screening, vaccination, and disease monitoring. RESULTS Of 277 (41.3%) responding providers, 42% reported performing HBV screening in >50% of at-risk patients, and 49%, HBV vaccination in >50% of eligible patients. Most reported appropriate monitoring of a majority of HBV-infected patients with alanine aminotransferase (79%) and HBV viral load (67%) every 6 to 12 months, but performed any hepatocellular carcinoma screening in 49%. Provider factors significantly associated with HBV screening were speaking an Asian language [odds ratio (OR), 3.27], offering HBV treatment (OR, 3.00), having >25% of Asian patients in practice (OR, 2.10), practicing in safety net settings (OR, 7.51) and having higher barrier score (OR, 0.74). Appropriate HBV monitoring was associated with provider speaking an Asian language (OR, 3.43) and provider age (OR, 0.68/decade). Hepatocellular carcinoma screening was associated with having >25% of patients speaking English as a second language (OR, 4.26) and practicing in safety net settings (OR, 0.14). CONCLUSIONS Rates of adherence to HBV guidelines were suboptimal irrespective of practice setting and were influenced by certain provider, patient and practice factors. This study reinforces the importance of engaging primary care providers in development, dissemination, and implementation of evidence-based HBV practice guidelines.
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Beck KR, Kim N, Khalili M. Sofosbuvir-Containing Regimens for Chronic Hepatitis C Are Successful in the Safety-Net Population: A Real-World Experience. Dig Dis Sci 2016; 61:3602-3608. [PMID: 27743164 PMCID: PMC5106301 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-016-4340-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and experience high rates of health disparity. There are no data on real-world experience with highly efficacious direct-acting anti-HCV treatment in this population. AIMS We aimed to evaluate the real-world experience with sofosbuvir-based regimens among a vulnerable HCV-infected population. METHODS HCV treatment response was assessed among 204 patients who completed 12-24 weeks of sofosbuvir-based regimens (in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, simeprevir, ledipasvir, or daclatasvir) at the San Francisco safety-net healthcare system liver specialty clinic between January 2014 and December 2015. Virologic response during therapy was assessed at weeks 4 and 8, end of therapy, and 12-week treatment discontinuation (SVR 12). RESULTS Patient characteristics were median age 58 years, 60 % male, 42 % Caucasian (21 % black, 19 % Hispanic), 72 % had genotype 1 (23 % genotype 2 or 3), and the median baseline log10 HCV viral load was 6.1 IU/ml and alanine transaminase 63 U/l. Cirrhosis was present in 36 % (of whom 40 % were decompensated), and 18 % were HCV treatment-experienced. Overall, SVR 12 was achieved in 97 % (99 % genotype 1, 100 % genotype 2, 84 % genotype 3). Five of six (83 %) patients who relapsed had decompensated cirrhosis, and 67 % were also non-adherent to therapy. On-treatment virologic response did not impact SVR. CONCLUSIONS High rates of sustained virologic response can be achieved in safety-net HCV-infected patients. Access to DAA-based regimens is critical to addressing HCV-related health disparity in this at-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendall R Beck
- Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Avenue, NH 3-D, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA
| | - Nicole Kim
- Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Avenue, NH 3-D, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA
| | - Mandana Khalili
- Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Avenue, NH 3-D, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA.
- Liver Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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36
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State of the Art, Unresolved Issues, and Future Research Directions in the Fight against Hepatitis C Virus: Perspectives for Screening, Diagnostics of Resistances, and Immunization. J Immunol Res 2016; 2016:1412840. [PMID: 27843956 PMCID: PMC5098088 DOI: 10.1155/2016/1412840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) still represents a major public health threat, with a dramatic burden from both epidemiological and clinical points of view. New generation of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) has been recently introduced in clinical practice promising to cure HCV and to overcome the issues related to the interferon-based therapies. However, the emergence of drug resistance and the suboptimal activity of DAAs therapies against diverse HCV genotypes have been observed, determining treatment failure and hampering an effective control of HCV spread worldwide. Moreover, these treatments remain poorly accessible, particularly in low-income countries. Finally, effective screening strategy is crucial to early identifying and treating all HCV chronically infected patients. For all these reasons, even though new drugs may contribute to impacting HCV spread worldwide a preventive HCV vaccine remains a cornerstone in the road to significantly reduce the HCV spread globally, with the ultimate goal of its eradication. Advances in molecular vaccinology, together with a strong financial, political, and societal support, will enable reaching this fundamental success in the coming years. In this comprehensive review, the state of the art about these major topics in the fight against HCV and the future of research in these fields are discussed.
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37
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Marinho RT, Costa A, Pires T, Raposo H, Vasconcelos C, Polónia C, Borges J, Soares M, Vilar G, Nogueira AM. A multidimensional education program at substance dependence treatment centers improves patient knowledge and hepatitis C care. BMC Infect Dis 2016; 16:565. [PMID: 27733137 PMCID: PMC5062838 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-016-1883-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background HCV treatment among people who inject drugs (PWID) is low. Education programs may be suitable strategies to improve patients’ knowledge about their condition and to overcome barriers to access treatment. Methods The Health Educational Program (HEP) consisted of patient workshops and educational videos and leaflets, and healthcare professionals’ workshops. HEP was implemented at seven substance dependence treatment centers (STDC) in Portugal. The study comprised two cross-sectional evaluations conducted before and after HEP. At both evaluations, adult patients with confirmed HCV diagnosis and registered in the STDC were consecutively included. For patients that completed both evaluations, the overall knowledge score were calculated and compared with McNemar test. Linear regression modelling was used to evaluate factors associated with baseline knowledge. Rates of referral and attendance to referral specialist, treatment proposal, initiation and retention at both evaluations were also compared with McNemar test. Results Overall, 504 patients with chronic hepatitis C were included: 78 % male, mean age 42.3 ± 6.6 years, 14 % school education ≤ 4 years, disease duration 11.0 ± 6.0 years and 26 % HIV co-infected. A higher baseline knowledge was independently associated with educational level ≥ 10 years (regression coefficient [B] =15.13, p < 0.001), current use of intravenous drugs (B = 7.99, p = 0.038), previous referral for treatment (B = 4.26, p = 0.008) and previous HCV treatment (B = 5.40, p = 0.003). Following HEP, mean knowledge score increased from 69 % to 79 % (p < 0.001). The rate of patient referral to a liver specialist increased from 56.2 % to 67.5 % (p < 0.001). Conclusions An HEP conducted at STDCs improved significantly patient knowledge about hepatitis C, even among patients with a high baseline knowledge. The HEP has also increased the rate of referral to the liver specialist and showed a great potential to support healthcare professionals in managing HCV. Education programs may promote treatment access among PWID, a population that represents the majority of HCV infected patients. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-016-1883-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Tato Marinho
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Hospital Santa Maria - Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, Lisbon, 1649-035, Portugal.
| | - António Costa
- UD Centro das Taipas, Parque de Saúde de Lisboa - Av. Brasil n.° 53, Pavilhão 2, 1° andar, 1749-002, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Teodomiro Pires
- ETET de Almada, Rua das Terras dos Cortes Reais n°1, 2805-025, Almada, Portugal
| | - Helena Raposo
- ETET do Barreiro, Rua Almirante Reis n°50, 2830-326, Barreiro, Portugal
| | - Carlos Vasconcelos
- ETET de Gondomar, Rua Caminho de Pevidal, R/C - S/N, 4420-264, Gondomar, Portugal
| | - Cristina Polónia
- ETET de Setúbal, Praça da República, 2900-587, Setúbal, Portugal
| | - Joaquim Borges
- ETET da Figueira da Foz, Rua Doutor Calado 2, Figueira da Foz, 3080-153, Figueira da Foz, Portugal
| | - Mariana Soares
- ETET Eixo Oeiras Cascais, Rua Professor Orlando Ribeiro, n.°3A, B, n.° 5A, B e n.° 7, 2740-222, Porto Salvo, Portugal
| | - Graça Vilar
- SICAD- General-Directorate for Intervention on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies, Avenida da República, n° 61, 3° piso, 1050-189, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Maria Nogueira
- MSD Portugal, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Quinta da Fonte, Edifício Vasco da Gama, 19, 2770-192, Paço de Arcos, Portugal
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Zhou K, Fitzpatrick T, Walsh N, Kim JY, Chou R, Lackey M, Scott J, Lo YR, Tucker JD. Interventions to optimise the care continuum for chronic viral hepatitis: a systematic review and meta-analyses. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2016; 16:1409-1422. [PMID: 27615026 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(16)30208-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Revised: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advances in therapy for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) have ushered in a new era in chronic hepatitis treatment. To maximise the effectiveness of these medicines, individuals must be engaged and retained in care. We analysed operational interventions to enhance chronic viral hepatitis testing, linkage to care, treatment uptake, adherence, and viral suppression or cure. METHODS We did a systematic review of operational interventions, and did meta-analyses for sufficiently comparable data. We searched PubMed, Embase, WHO library, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, PsycINFO, and CINAHL for randomised controlled trials and controlled non-randomised studies that examined operational interventions along the chronic viral hepatitis care continuum, published in English up to Dec 31, 2014. We included non-pharmaceutical intervention studies with primary or secondary outcomes of testing, linkage to care, treatment uptake, treatment adherence, treatment completion, treatment outcome, or viral endpoints. We excluded dissertations and studies of children only. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer. Studies were assessed for bias. Data from similar interventions were pooled and quality of evidence was assessed using GRADE. This study was registered in PROSPERO (42014015094). FINDINGS We identified 7583 unduplicated studies, and included 56 studies that reported outcomes along the care continuum (41 for HCV and 18 for HBV). All studies except one were from high-income countries. Lay health worker HBV test promotion interventions increased HBV testing rates (relative risk [RR] 2·68, 95% CI 1·82-3·93). Clinician reminders to prompt HCV testing during clinical visits increased HCV testing rates (3·70, 1·81-7·57). Nurse-led educational interventions improved HCV treatment completion (1·14, 1·05-1·23) and cure (odds ratio [OR] 1·93, 95% CI 1·44-2·59). Coordinated mental health, substance misuse, and hepatitis treatment services increased HCV treatment uptake (OR 3·03, 1·24-7·37), adherence (RR 1·22, 1·05-1·41), and cure (RR 1·21, 1·07-1·38) compared with usual care. INTERPRETATION Several simple, inexpensive operational interventions can substantially improve engagement and retention along the chronic viral hepatitis care continuum. Further operational research to inform scale-up of hepatitis services is needed in low-income and middle-income countries. FUNDING World Health Organization and US Fulbright Program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kali Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Nick Walsh
- World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
| | - Ji Young Kim
- World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
| | - Roger Chou
- Department of Medical Informatics & Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Mellanye Lackey
- Spencer S Eccles Health Sciences Library, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Julia Scott
- World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
| | - Ying-Ru Lo
- World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
| | - Joseph D Tucker
- UNC-Project China, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; International Diagnostics Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
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Myles A. The Role of Physicians’ Attitudes and the Provision of Hepatitis C Virus Treatment to People Who Inject Drugs. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.2174/1874220301603010104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Inadequate hepatitis C virus (HCV) assessment and treatment among people who inject drugs (PWID) is a result of patient, provider and health system level barriers. Low HCV treatment rates continue even though guidelines have been revised to consider HCV treatment among PWID on a case-by-case basis. If accessibility to HCV treatment were increased, especially to PWID this would greatly decrease the pool of communicable disease. In order to successfully control and prevent HCV infection PWID must be actively engaged in the treatment process. Physicians’ attitudes towards HCV treatment can be represented in studies as views that are directly perceived by the physician or indirectly as perceived by the patient who is under the care of the physician. The current review focuses on examining both the indirect and direct views of physician’s attitudes in treating HCV-infected PWID and examines how this influences and impacts provision of HCV treatment. A review of the literature suggests that physician’s have varied attitudes towards their patients who use recreational drugs and who are HCV positive. Moreover it is the negative associations between HCV and drug use that can impact HCV treatment accessibility and affect the number of people who can actively begin treatment.
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Simoes P, Asaad A, Abed J, Engelson ES, Kotler DP. Effect of Gender on the Response to Hepatitis C Treatment in an Inner-City Population. Womens Health Issues 2016; 25:289-93. [PMID: 25965157 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2015.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation in the United States. Response to treatment has improved with the addition of direct acting protease inhibitors. However, there are limited real-world data on the role of gender in achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR). METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study in 70 patients treated for HCV, genotype 1 infection with pegylated alpha interferon, ribavirin, and either telaprevir or boceprevir at our inner-city liver clinic. RESULTS The SVR was significantly lower in women than in men (24% vs. 59%; p < .01). Statistical significance persisted after adjusting for age, race, genotype, prior treatment status, duration of therapy, and stage of fibrosis. The adjusted odds ratio for achieving SVR was significantly lower in women than in men (odds ratio [OR], 0.13; 95% CI, 0.03-0.58; p = .01). Relapse after completing treatment was more likely to occur in women (p = .02). Thirty-four patients (48%) did not complete therapy. Discontinuation because of loss to follow-up was more likely in women, whereas discontinuation owing to therapy limiting adverse drug events were more common in men. Discontinuation rates owing to failure of therapy were similar in men and women. CONCLUSIONS There was a significant difference in SVR between men and women. Both biological and nonbiological factors, the latter including access to care, adherence to therapy, and attitudes of and toward health care providers all could play a role in contributing to the observed disparity between sexes in treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Simoes
- Department of Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals, New York, New York
| | - Adel Asaad
- Department of Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals, New York, New York
| | - Jean Abed
- Department of Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals, New York, New York
| | - Ellen S Engelson
- Department of Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals, New York, New York; Division of Gastroenterology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals, New York, New York
| | - Donald P Kotler
- Department of Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals, New York, New York; Division of Gastroenterology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals, New York, New York.
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Arain A, De Sousa J, Corten K, Verrando R, Thijs H, Mathei C, Buntinx F, Robaeys G. Pilot Study: Combining Formal and Peer Education with FibroScan to Increase HCV Screening and Treatment in Persons who use Drugs. J Subst Abuse Treat 2016; 67:44-9. [PMID: 27296661 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2016.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Revised: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment uptake for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains low in persons who inject drugs (PWID), due to lack of knowledge and low perceived need for treatment. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to assess the influence on knowledge and willingness for HCV screening and treatment among persons who use drugs (PWUD) by combining formal and peer education with FibroScan measurement. METHODS Clients of the Center for Alcohol and other Drug problems (CAD) in Limburg (Belgium) were randomized into a control group, which received the standard of care, and an intervention group, which received an innovative combination of formal and peer education followed by FibroScan. Knowledge of HCV infection and willingness for screening and treatment were evaluated at baseline, after intervention and 1 and 3months after intervention by means of questionnaires. RESULTS Baseline knowledge was similar for the control (n=27) and the intervention group (n=25) (58 vs. 59%; p=0.67). Immediately after the information session, knowledge increased to 86% (p<0.001) in the intervention group. After 3months, knowledge decreased significantly (69%; p=0.01). No significant changes in knowledge were found in the control group. Baseline willingness for treatment was 81% in both the control and intervention groups, but after 1 month decreased in the control group (44%) and remained stable in the intervention group (75%). Differences in actual screening uptake between the control and intervention group were not significant (7% vs. 20%). Four percent of the intervention group and no one in the control group started treatment. CONCLUSION The small number of subjects should be considered when interpreting the results of this study. In brief, the single information session significantly improved HCV knowledge among PWUD, but did not result in a higher uptake for screening and treatment. This could signify that there are other important reasons, besides lack of knowledge, not to undergo screening or start treatment. The fact that knowledge decreased after 3months indicates that it would be beneficial to repeat the information session regularly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber Arain
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universiteit Hasselt, Hasselt, Belgium.
| | - Jessica De Sousa
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universiteit Hasselt, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Kirsten Corten
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universiteit Hasselt, Hasselt, Belgium
| | | | | | - Catharina Mathei
- Free Clinic, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Public Health and Primary Care KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frank Buntinx
- Department of General Practice, KU Leuven, Belgium and Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | - Geert Robaeys
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universiteit Hasselt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Hepatology, University Hospitals KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Schaeffer S, Khalili M. Reasons for HCV non-treatment in underserved African Americans: implications for treatment with new therapeutics. Ann Hepatol 2015; 14:234-42. [PMID: 25671833 PMCID: PMC4384428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND African Americans are disproportionately affected by hepatitis C (HCV) and are less likely to undergo HCV treatment. Underserved populations are especially at risk for experiencing health disparity. Aim. To identify reasons for HCV non-treatment among underserved African Americans in a large safetynet system. MATERIAL AND METHODS Medical records of HCV-infected African Americans evaluated at San Francisco General Hospital liver specialty clinic from 2006-2011 who did not receive HCV treatment were reviewed. Treatment eligibility and reasons for non-treatment were assessed. Factors associated with treatment ineligibility were assessed using logistic regression modeling. RESULTS Among 118 patients, 42% were treatment ineligible, 18% treatment eligible, and 40% were undergoing work-up to determine eligibility. Reasons for treatment ineligibility were medical (54%), non-medical (14%), psychiatric (4%), or combined (28%). When controlling for age and sex, active/recent substance abuse (OR 6.65, p = 0.001) and having two or more medical comorbidities (OR 3.39, p = 0.005) predicted treatment ineligibility. Excluding those ineligible for treatment, 72% of all other patients were lost to follow-up; they were older (55 vs. 48 years, p = 0.01) and more likely to be undergoing work up to determine treatment eligibility (86 vs. 21%, p < 0.0001) than those not lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Medical comorbidities and substance abuse predicted HCV treatment ineligibility in underserved African Americans. Importantly, the majority of those undergoing work-up to determine HCV treatment eligibility were lost to follow-up. While newer anti-HCV agents may increase treatment eligibility, culturally appropriate interventions to increase compliance with evaluation and care remain critical to HCV management in underserved African Americans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Schaeffer
- Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. USA
| | - Mandana Khalili
- Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. USA,Liver Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. USA
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A comparative study of patients' knowledge about hepatitis C in the United States and in urban and rural China. Hepatol Int 2014; 9:58-66. [PMID: 25788380 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-014-9559-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis C (HCV) is the predominant cause of chronic liver disease in the USA and is increasingly recognized as a common cause of liver disease in China. Studies of HCV patients in the US found major gaps in knowledge but little is known about HCV knowledge among patients in China. METHODS We conducted a survey in three cohorts of HCV patients in Ann Arbor, MI, US, and in Beijing and Hebei, China, between April and November 2012 to compare patient knowledge about HCV in the US and in urban and rural China. RESULTS A total of 525 patients (US 186; Beijing 186; Hebei 153) were enrolled. Mean ages of the three cohorts ranged from 52-56 years; 63% of US and 47% of Chinese patients were males; 63% of US and 39% of Beijing patients had college or postgraduate education compared to 0.7% in Hebei. More than half of the US and Beijing patients but only 13% of Hebei patients had received HCV treatment. The average HCV knowledge score out of a total of 16 in the US, Beijing, and Hebei was 12.7, 11.7, and 6.4, respectively (p < 0.001). Study site, education, gender, and prior HCV treatment were independent predictors of HCV knowledge. CONCLUSIONS Knowledge about HCV in the US and Beijing patients was similar and significantly better than in Hebei patients. Our data show that efforts to improve HCV knowledge are necessary for all three cohorts and should be tailored to the education level and health literacy of the patients.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article examines recent health services and policy research studies in hepatology and liver transplantation. RECENT FINDINGS Critical issues include access to medical care, timeliness of referral and consultation, resource utilization in clinical practice, comparative effectiveness research, and the evaluation of care delivery models. Despite policymaking efforts, there continues to be unwarranted variation in access to subspecialty care and liver transplantation services based on race and geographic location. Variations in primary care and specialist awareness of practice guidelines for liver disease contribute to disparities in appropriateness and timeliness of treatments. Defining the cost-effectiveness of increased resource utilization for novel antiviral therapies and liver transplantation continues to stimulate controversy. Few comparative effectiveness studies in hepatology exist to date, yet a growing number of analyses using national datasets will help inform policy in this arena. Identifying care delivery models that demonstrate high value for populations with chronic liver disease is critical in the context of recent healthcare reform efforts. SUMMARY Health services and policy research is a growing field of investigation in hepatology and liver transplantation. Further emphasis on research training and workforce development in this area will be critical for understanding and improving patient-centered outcomes for this population.
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Norton BL, Voils CI, Timberlake SH, Hecker EJ, Goswami ND, Huffman KM, Landgraf A, Naggie S, Stout JE. Community-based HCV screening: knowledge and attitudes in a high risk urban population. BMC Infect Dis 2014; 14:74. [PMID: 24512462 PMCID: PMC3945609 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-14-74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2013] [Accepted: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In an attempt to curtail the rising morbidity and mortality from undiagnosed HCV (hepatitis C virus) in the United States, screening guidelines have been expanded to high-risk individuals and persons born 1945–1965. Community-based screening may be one strategy in which to reach such persons; however, the acceptance of HCV testing, when many high-risk individuals may not have access to HCV specific medications, remains unknown. Methods We set out to assess attitudes about HCV screening and knowledge about HCV disease at several community-based testing sites that serve high-risk populations. This assessment was paired with a brief HCV educational intervention, followed by post-education evaluation. Results Participants (n = 140) were surveyed at five sites; two homeless shelters, two drug rehabilitation centers, and a women’s "drop-in" center. Personal acceptance of HCV testing was almost unanimous, and 90% of participants reported that they would still want to be tested even if they were unable to receive HCV treatment. Baseline hepatitis C knowledge was poor; however, the brief educational intervention significantly improved knowledge and increased acceptability of testing when medical access issues were explicitly stated. Conclusions Despite inconsistencies in access to care and treatment, high-risk communities want to know their HCV status. Though baseline HCV knowledge was poor in this population, a brief on-site educational intervention improved both knowledge and acceptability of HCV testing and care. These data support the establishment of programs that utilize community-based screening, and also provide initial evidence for acceptance of the implementation of the recently expanded screening guidelines among marginalized communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna L Norton
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University Medical Center, Box 102358, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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