The influence of race and language on chronic hepatitis C virus infection management.
Race, ethnicity and language influence health care delivery and satisfaction with treatment in many disease states including chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In this review, HCV epidemiology and current standard of care is reviewed. The influence of race, ethnicity and language on screening, work-up and initiation of HCV antiviral treatment is evaluated. Acknowledging that these factors do influence health care quality and taking steps to improve communication (e.g. translated written documents; use of reliable, trained translators in the clinic setting) will facilitate the delivery of an equivalent level of care to all patients living with HCV.
Giordano
Céline
C
University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital, Division of Infectious Diseases, Ottawa, Canada. ccooper@ottawahospital.on.ca
Cooper
Curtis
C
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008403:Mass Screening; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations
D000998:Antiviral Agents