Offers of hepatitis C care do not lead to treatment.
Since 2002, clinicians have been encouraged to offer chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment to patients with injection drug use histories. We conducted 69 baseline and 35 follow-up interviews between September 2002 and November 2004 with HCV patients who were treatment-naïve and receiving regular medical care at an HIV or methadone clinic in New York City at baseline. Of the 31 patients reinterviewed, 20 (65%) were offered treatment but only 2 (7%) were treated. Reasons for failure to be reinterviewed were loss to follow-up at the original site of care (30), death (6), and refusal to be reinterviewed (2). Whereas offers of HCV treatment may be increasing, there is a need to improve continuity of care, patient-provider communication, and patient education regarding HCV treatment options for treatment rates to improve.
Schackman
Bruce R
BR
Department of Public Health, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 411 East 69th Street, New York, NY 10021, USA. brs2006@med.cornell.edu
Teixeira
Paul A
PA
Beeder
Ann B
AB
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000821:virology
D008691:Methadone