title: Cost-effectiveness of targeted screening for hepatitis C in The Netherlands.
abstract: On account of the serious complications of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the improved treatment possibilities, the need to improve HCV awareness and case-finding is increasingly recognized. To optimize a future national campaign with this objective, three pilot campaigns were executed in three regions in The Netherlands. One campaign was aimed at the general population, a second (similar) campaign was extended with a support programme for primary care and a third campaign was specifically aimed at hard-drug users. Data from the pilot campaigns were used to build a mathematical model to estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of the different campaigns. The campaign aimed at the general public without support for primary care did not improve case-finding and was therefore not cost-effective. The similar campaign accompanied by additional support for primary care and the campaign aimed at hard-drug users emerged as cost-effective interventions for identification of HCV carriers.
authors.affiliation: Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht, The Netherlands. c.helsper@gmail.com
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Helsper
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Borkent-Raven
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: de Wit
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: van Essen
authors.forename: M J M
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bonten
authors.forename: A I M
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Hoepelman
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: de Wit
mesh_terms: D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D055030:Drug Users; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009426:Netherlands; D010865:Pilot Projects