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