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EDITORIAL

A survey of Australian general practitioners’ hepatitis C knowledge and management 2 years after subsidised direct-acting antiviral therapy became available

Michelle Gooey https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3955-7466 A , Evelyn Wong B , Alisa Pedrana A C , Nicole Allard D E , Joseph Doyle A F , Margaret Hellard A C F G H and Amanda Wade A I J
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Disease Elimination Program, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia.

B Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Vic. 3125, Australia.

C School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road,Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia.

D Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, 300 Grattan Street,Parkville, Vic. 3050, Australia.

E WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, Doherty Institute, 792 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.

F Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred and Monash University, Level 2, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia.

G Doherty Institute, 792 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.

H Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Level 4, 207 Bouverie Street, The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.

I Department of Infectious Diseases, Barwon Health, Bellerine Street, Geelong, Vic. 3220, Australia.

J Corresponding author. Email: amanda.wade@burnet.edu.au

Sexual Health 17(4) 387-389 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH19189
Submitted: 24 October 2019  Accepted: 12 May 2020   Published: 22 July 2020

Abstract

In 2016, hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) became available in Australia. A group of general practitioners (GPs) were surveyed twice to assess hepatitis C knowledge and management; 191/1000 (19.1%) responded at baseline, 164/938 (17.5%) at follow up. Participants’ mean Knowledge score increased: baseline 5.75 (95% CI 5.61–5.91), follow up 6.09 (95% CI 5.95–6.22; P <0.01). At follow up, 36/163 (22%) had prescribed DAAs compared with 23/187 (12%) at baseline (χ2(1) = 5.95, P = 0.02); however, 67/150 (45%) were unsure of treatment eligibility for people who inject drugs. Additional support for GPs is warranted to ensure optimal hepatitis C management in primary care.

Additional keywords: general practice, primary care.


References

[1]  World Health Organization. Global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis 2016–2021. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2016.

[2]  Wade A, Draper B, Doyle J, Allard N, Grinzi P, Thompson A, et al A survey of hepatitis C management by Victorian GPs after PBS-listing of direct-acting antiviral therapy. Aust Fam Physician 2017; 46 235–40.
| 28376580PubMed |

[3]  National HCV Testing Policy Expert Reference Committee. National HCV testing policy. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia; 2017.

[4]  Wade AJ, Doyle JS, Gane E, Stedman C, Draper B, Iser D, et al Outcomes of treatment for hepatitis C in primary care, compared to hospital-based care: a randomized, controlled trial in people who inject drugs. Clin Infect Dis 2020; 70 1900–6.
| 31233117PubMed |

[5]  Lambert SM, Page A, Wittmann J, Hayllar J, Ferndale C, Bain T, et al General practitioner attitudes to prescribing hepatitis C antiviral therapy in a community setting. Aust J Prim Health 2011; 17 282–7.
General practitioner attitudes to prescribing hepatitis C antiviral therapy in a community setting.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21896265PubMed |