title: Implementation of Birth-Cohort Testing for Hepatitis C Virus.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus infection affects approximately 2.2 to 3.2 million Americans. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended a one-time antibody test of all persons belonging to the 1945-1965 birth cohort. Efforts to implement this recommendation in clinical settings are in their infancy; this case study report therefore seeks to share the experiences of three sites that implemented interventions to increase birth-cohort testing through participation in the Birth-cohort Evaluation to Advance Screening and Testing for Hepatitis C. At each site, project managers completed standardized questionnaires about their implementation experiences, and a qualitative analysis was conducted of the responses. The testing interventions used in-person recruitment, mail recruitment, and an electronic health record prompt. Sites reported that early efforts to obtain stakeholder buy-in were critical to effectively implement and sustain interventions and that the intervention required additional staffing resources beyond those being used for risk-based testing. In each case, administrative barriers were more extensive than anticipated. For the electronic health record-based intervention, technological support was critical in achieving study goals. Despite these barriers, interventions in all sites were successful in increasing rates of testing and case identification, although future studies will need to evaluate the relative costs and benefits of each intervention.
authors: 1 The Chartis Group, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Danielle Liffmann
authors: DL
authors: Kruger
authors: 2 NORC at the University of Chicago, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: David B
authors: DB
authors: Rein
authors: 3 Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
authors: Natalie
authors: N
authors: Kil
authors: 4 University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors: Cynthia
authors: C
authors: Jordan
authors: 5 Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors: Kimberly A
authors: KA
authors: Brown
authors: 6 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Anthony
authors: A
authors: Yartel
authors: 6 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Bryce D
authors: BD
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States
keywords: community intervention; health promotion; health research; process evaluation; program planning and evaluation; public health laws/policies