title: General practice characteristics associated with rates of testing and detection of hepatitis C: cross-sectional study in Nottingham and Derbyshire.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine general practice characteristics associated with testing rates for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the proportion of tests with a positive result. The study included all patients tested for HCV from all general practices in the primary care trusts in Nottingham and Southern Derbyshire, UK over 2 years. There was a large variation between practices in HCV testing rates and the proportion of positive tests. Single-handed practices had higher testing rates and rates of positive results. Practices where at least half of the GPs were female had higher testing rates but lower positivity rates. The variation observed was not explained by deprivation or rurality of the practice.
authors.affiliation: School of Community Health Sciences, Division of Primary Care, University of Nottingham, UK. carol.coupland@nottingham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coupland
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hippisley-Cox
authors.forename: Sherie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Will
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Irving
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pringle
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ryder
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cater
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pugh
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bicknell
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bullock
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors