title: Translational research of telecare for the treatment of hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a serious health problem in Taiwan. The high dropout rate due to side effects limits the efficacy of treatment. The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of telecare for the treatment of chronic hepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and ninety-eight patients randomly chose either of the two support programs. Group 1 was offered public health nurse consultation at outpatient clinic. Group 2 was offered telecare program with 24 hours of consultation services via a health communication center. All patients were treated with standard therapy and followed up for 72 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normalization of serum biochemistry was noted in both Group 1 (150 patients) and Group 2 (148 patients). The most common types of side effect in both groups were influenza-like symptoms. Patient compliance was 88% (Group 1) and 94.6% (Group 2). Total dropout cases were 18 (12%) in Group 1 and 8 (5.4%) in Group 2. The program costs were 232,632 USD (Group 1) and 112,500 USD (Group 2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Telecare system with health care communication center model is significant in reducing dropout rate and is more effective with easy access.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan ; College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan ; International SOS, Taipei 104, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wan-Lin
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0600-5406
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan ; Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Ta
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Shun
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: International SOS, Taipei 104, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Huang
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan ; College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan ; Department of Emergency, College of Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 235, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shin-Han
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013624:Taiwan; D017216:Telemedicine; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases