title: Under the watchful eye of 'a benevolent dictator' - general practitioner and patient experiences of hepatitis C treatment initiation and shared-care in general practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Innovative models of hepatitis C treatment delivery are needed to increase treatment uptake.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative evaluation of the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine's Initiation of Hepatitis C Treatment in General Practice Pilot was conducted between November 2010 and June 2012. Structured interview schedules collected data on the treatment experiences of seven general practitioners (GPs) and eight of their patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GPs were satisfied with the process of initiating hepatitis C treatment. They were generally positive about the support they had experienced under shared-care arrangements with tertiary clinics and they saw few barriers to initiating treatment. Similarly, patients appreciated the continuity of care that this treatment model affords, the convenience of accessing treatment from their GP and being treated by a GP they trusted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The initiation of hepatitis C treatment through general practice is a viable model that could increase the number of people accessing hepatitis C treatment.
authors: PhD, Research Fellow, Centre for Social Research in Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales.
authors: Max
authors: M
authors: Hopwood
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Treloar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D058006:General Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D036301:Qualitative Research
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents