title: A Hepatitis C Educational Needs Assessment of Canadian Healthcare Providers.
abstract: Background and Aim. Despite advances in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection (CHC), it remains a major public health problem in Canada and globally. The knowledge of healthcare providers (HCPs) is critical to improve the care of CHC in Canada. To assess the current knowledge and educational needs of healthcare providers (HCPs) in the area of CHC management a national online survey was conducted.Method. An interprofessional steering committee designed a 29-question survey distributed through various direct and electronic routes. The survey assessed several domains (e.g., participant and practice demographics, access to resources, knowledge of new treatments, and educational preferences).Results. A total of 163 HCPs responded to the survey. All hepatologists and 8% of primary care providers (PCPs) reported involvement in treatment of CHC. Physicians most frequently screened patients who had abnormal liver enzymes, while nurses tended to screen based on lifestyle factors. More than 70% of PCPs were not aware of new medications and their mechanisms.Conclusion. Overall, the needs assessment demonstrated that there was a need for further education, particularly for primary care physicians, to maximize the role that they can play in screening, testing, and treatment of hepatitis C in Canada.
authors.affiliation: Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4469-9541
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naghdi
authors.affiliation: Canadian Liver Foundation, National Office, Markham, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seto
authors.affiliation: Canadian Association of Hepatology Nurses, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klassen
authors.affiliation: Outpost Healthcare, Regina, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: Didi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Emokpare
authors.affiliation: Vancouver Infectious Disease Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Vancouver General Hospital and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2910-7461
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Hemant A
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6423-2383
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires