scholarly journals Considering treatment-as-prevention scale-up for Australian prisons: a qualitative sub-study of expert stakeholders from the Australian ‘surveillance and treatment of prisoners with hepatitis C’ project (SToP-C)

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jake Rance ◽  
◽  
Lise Lafferty ◽  
Carla Treloar
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Primary Prevention ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Treatment As Prevention ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Hcv Treatment ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Direct Acting ◽  
Levels Of Support

Abstract Background With direct-acting antivirals dramatically reshaping the public health response to the hepatitis C virus (HCV), prisons are set to play a critical role in elimination efforts. Despite the theoretical demonstration of HCV treatment-as-prevention in prison in mathematical modeling, limited empirical data exist. The Australian ‘Surveillance and Treatment of Prisoners with Hepatitis C’ project (SToP-C) is the world’s first trial of HCV treatment-as-prevention in prison. Drawing on interviews with HCV expert stakeholders, this paper explores the factors respondents identified as crucial to the success of future scale-up. Accounting for such perspectives matters because of the influence expert discourse has in shaping implementation. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nineteen HCV experts working across key policy, advocacy, research and clinical dimensions of the Australian HCV response. Data were coded using qualitative data management software (NVivo 11). Analysis proceeded via a hybrid deductive and inductive approach. Results Notwithstanding concerns regarding the lack of primary prevention in Australian prisons, stakeholders reported broad levels of support for the intervention and for the future scale-up of HCV treatment. A number of considerations, both external and internal to the prison system, were identified as key. The principal external factor was an enabling political-cum-policy environment; internal factors included: obtaining support from prisons’ executive and custodial staff; promoting health within a security-first institutional culture; allocating time for treatment within prisoners’ tightly regulated schedules; ensuring institutional stability during treatment given the routine movement of prisoners between prisons; prioritizing the availability of retreatment given the paucity of primary prevention; and securing sufficient clinical space for treatment. Conclusion The challenges to implementation are considerable, ranging from macrolevel concerns to in-prison logistical matters. Nonetheless, we argue that prisons remain an obvious setting for treatment scale-up, not only for prevention and potential elimination benefit, but for the treatment opportunities they afford a socially disadvantaged and underserved population. While noting widespread concerns among respondents regarding the paucity of primary prevention in Australian prisons, results indicate broad levels of support among expert stakeholders for HCV treatment scale-up in prison.

scholarly journals Treatment as prevention for hepatitis C virus in Pakistan: mathematical modelling projections

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e026600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Houssein H Ayoub ◽  
Laith J Abu-Raddad
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Incidence Rate ◽  
Treatment As Prevention ◽  
Treatment Programme ◽  
Annual Incidence Rate ◽  
Rate Reduction ◽  
Hcv Treatment ◽  
Age Structured ◽  
Direct Acting

ObjectiveDirect-acting antivirals have opened an opportunity for controlling hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Pakistan, where 10% of the global infection burden is found. We aimed to evaluate the implications of five treatment programme scenarios for HCV treatment as prevention (HCV-TasP) in Pakistan.DesignAn age-structured mathematical model was used to evaluate programme impact using epidemiological and programme indicators.SettingTotal Pakistan population.ParticipantsTotal Pakistan HCV-infected population.InterventionsHCV treatment programme scenarios from 2018 up to 2030.ResultsBy 2030 across the five HCV-TasP scenarios, 0.6–7.3 million treatments were administered, treatment coverage reached between 3.7% and 98.7%, prevalence of chronic infection reached 2.4%–0.03%, incidence reduction ranged between 41% and 99%, program-attributed reduction in incidence rate ranged between 7.2% and 98.5% and number of averted infections ranged between 126 221 and 750 547. Annual incidence rate reduction in the first decade of the programme was around 6%–18%. Number of treatments needed to prevent one new infection ranged between 4.7–9.8, at a drug cost of about US$900. Cost of the programme by 2030, in the most ambitious elimination scenario, reached US$708 million. Stipulated WHO target for 2030 cannot be accomplished without scaling up treatment to 490 000 per year, and maintaining it for a decade.ConclusionHCV-TasP is a highly impactful and potent approach to control Pakistan’s HCV epidemic and achieve elimination by 2030.

scholarly journals ‘I’m over the moon!’: patient-perceived outcomes of hepatitis C treatment

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davoud Pourmarzi ◽  
Andrew Smirnov ◽  
Lisa Hall ◽  
Gerard FitzGerald ◽  
Tony Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Hcv Treatment ◽  
Mixed Methods Case Study ◽  
Receive Treatment ◽  
Direct Acting ◽  
Self Protection ◽  
Perceived Outcomes

Understanding patient-perceived outcomes is crucial for assessing the effectiveness and acceptability of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment. This study aimed to explore patient-perceived outcomes of receiving direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). This study was a part of a mixed-methods case study of the Prince Charles Hospital program for improving access to HCV treatment in community settings. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with nine patients who were in different stages of their treatment for HCV. The participants were recruited using purposive sampling. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Patients emphasised ‘having more energy’ when reporting improvements in their physical health following treatment. They also reported a newly developed sense of freedom and hope. Improved physical and mental health empowered them to start a healthy lifestyle and to practise self-protection from the risk of re-infection. Patients highlighted their desire to help other patients to receive treatment, which was connected to their experience of the services that they received and their perceived health outcomes. Patients expect and experience various outcomes that are related to the physical, psychological and social aspects of living with, and being cured of HCV. Emphasis on the short-term outcomes of receiving HCV treatment may improve HCV treatment uptake and adherence rates.

scholarly journals Evaluating the population impact of hepatitis C direct acting antiviral treatment as prevention for people who inject drugs (EPIToPe) – a natural experiment (protocol)

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. e029538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Hickman ◽  
John F Dillon ◽  
Lawrie Elliott ◽  
Daniela De Angelis ◽  
Peter Vickerman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Treatment ◽  
People Who Inject Drugs ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Treatment As Prevention ◽  
Hcv Treatment ◽  
Direct Acting Antiviral ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Hcv Prevalence ◽  
Chronic Hcv ◽  
Direct Acting

IntroductionHepatitis C virus (HCV) is the second largest contributor to liver disease in the UK, with injecting drug use as the main risk factor among the estimated 200 000 people currently infected. Despite effective prevention interventions, chronic HCV prevalence remains around 40% among people who inject drugs (PWID). New direct-acting antiviral (DAA) HCV therapies combine high cure rates (>90%) and short treatment duration (8 to 12 weeks). Theoretical mathematical modelling evidence suggests HCV treatment scale-up can prevent transmission and substantially reduce HCV prevalence/incidence among PWID. Our primary aim is to generate empirical evidence on the effectiveness of HCV ‘Treatment as Prevention’ (TasP) in PWID.Methods and analysisWe plan to establish a natural experiment with Tayside, Scotland, as a single intervention site where HCV care pathways are being expanded (including specialist drug treatment clinics, needle and syringe programmes (NSPs), pharmacies and prison) and HCV treatment for PWID is being rapidly scaled-up. Other sites in Scotland and England will act as potential controls. Over 2 years from 2017/2018, at least 500 PWID will be treated in Tayside, which simulation studies project will reduce chronic HCV prevalence among PWID by 62% (from 26% to 10%) and HCV incidence will fall by approximately 2/3 (from 4.2 per 100 person-years (p100py) to 1.4 p100py). Treatment response and re-infection rates will be monitored. We will conduct focus groups and interviews with service providers and patients that accept and decline treatment to identify barriers and facilitators in implementing TasP. We will conduct longitudinal interviews with up to 40 PWID to assess whether successful HCV treatment alters their perspectives on and engagement with drug treatment and recovery. Trained peer researchers will be involved in data collection and dissemination. The primary outcome – chronic HCV prevalence in PWID – is measured using information from the Needle Exchange Surveillance Initiative survey in Scotland and the Unlinked Anonymous Monitoring Programme in England, conducted at least four times before and three times during and after the intervention. We will adapt Bayesian synthetic control methods (specifically the Causal Impact Method) to generate the cumulative impact of the intervention on chronic HCV prevalence and incidence. We will use a dynamic HCV transmission and economic model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the HCV TasP intervention, and to estimate the contribution of the scale-up in HCV treatment to observe changes in HCV prevalence. Through the qualitative data we will systematically explore key mechanisms of TasP real world implementation from provider and patient perspectives to develop a manual for scaling up HCV treatment in other settings. We will compare qualitative accounts of drug treatment and recovery with a ‘virtual cohort’ of PWID linking information on HCV treatment with Scottish Drug treatment databases to test whether DAA treatment improves drug treatment outcomes.Ethics and disseminationExtending HCV community care pathways is covered by ethics (ERADICATE C,ISRCTN27564683, Super DOT C Trial clinicaltrials.gov:NCT02706223). Ethical approval for extra data collection from patients including health utilities and qualitative interviews has been granted (REC ref: 18/ES/0128) and ISCRCTN registration has been completed (ISRCTN72038467). Our findings will have direct National Health Service and patient relevance; informing prioritisation given to early HCV treatment for PWID. We will present findings to practitioners and policymakers, and support design of an evaluation of HCV TasP in England.

scholarly journals Perceived physical health outcomes of direct-acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stelliana Goutzamanis ◽  
Danielle Horyniak ◽  
Joseph S. Doyle ◽  
Margaret Hellard ◽  
Peter Higgs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Community Treatment ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Direct Acting Antiviral ◽  
Treatment Uptake ◽  
Direct Acting

Abstract Background Novel health promotion and treatment uptake initiatives will be necessary to ensure Australia meets 2030 hepatitis C elimination targets. Increasing treatment uptake will be assisted by a better understanding of the treatment experience and patient-perceived benefits. This study describes the perceived physical health benefits from direct-acting antiviral (DAA) hepatitis C treatment among people who inject drugs in Melbourne, Australia. Methods Twenty participants were recruited from a community treatment trial and community health clinics. Semi-structured interviews were performed with each participant before, during and following treatment. Interviews focused on treatment experiences, attitudes and motivations. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. Results Two themes relating to the physical experience of treatment developed; intersection between physical and mental health and “maybe it’s working”. Participants reported various physical benefits, most prominently, reduced fatigue. Reductions in fatigue resulted in instant and meaningful changes in everyday life. Some participants did experience side effects, which they described as mild. Experiencing noticeable physical benefits during treatment was perceived as validation that treatment was working. Conclusion Physical health benefits of DAA treatment may have carry-on effects on cognitive, emotional or social wellbeing and should be incorporated into how treatment is promoted to those who require it.

Integrated, Co-located, Telemedicine-based Treatment Approaches for Hepatitis C Virus Management in Opioid Use Disorder Patients on Methadone

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew H Talal ◽  
Phyllis Andrews ◽  
Anthony Mcleod ◽  
Yang Chen ◽  
Clewert Sylvester ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Multiple Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Hcv Rna ◽  
Directly Observed Therapy ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Hcv Treatment ◽  
Opioid Substitution Therapy ◽  
Direct Acting

Abstract Background Despite high hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence, opioid use disorder (OUD) patients on methadone rarely engage in HCV treatment. We investigated the effectiveness of HCV management via telemedicine in an opioid substitution therapy (OST) program. Methods OUD patients on methadone underwent biweekly telemedicine sessions between a hepatologist and physician assistant during the entire HCV treatment course. All pretreatment labs (HCV RNA, genotype, and noninvasive fibrosis assessments) were obtained onsite and direct-acting antivirals were coadministered with methadone using modified directly observed therapy. We used multiple correspondence analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and logistic regression to identify variables associated with pursuit of HCV care. Results Sixty-two HCV RNA–positive patients (24% human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infected, 61% male, 61% African American, 25.8% Hispanic) were evaluated. All patients were stabilized on methadone and all except 4 were HCV genotype 1 infected. Advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis was present in 34.5% of patients. Of the 45 treated patients, 42 (93.3%) achieved viral eradication. Of 17 evaluated patients who were not treated, 5 were discontinued from the drug treatment program or did not follow up after the evaluation, 2 had HIV adherence issues, and 10 had insurance authorization issues. Marriage and a mental health diagnosis other than depression were the strongest positive predictors of treatment pursuit, whereas being divorced, separated, or widowed was the strongest negative predictor. Conclusions HCV management via telemedicine integrated into an OST program is a feasible model with excellent virologic effectiveness. Psychosocial and demographic variables can assist in identification of subgroups with a propensity or aversion to pursue HCV treatment.

scholarly journals Efficacy and Safety of Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir and Dasabuvir With or Without Ribavirin in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1 Infection Receiving Opioid Substitution Therapy: A Post Hoc Analysis of 12 Clinical Trials

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Grebely ◽  
Massimo Puoti ◽  
Heiner Wedemeyer ◽  
Curtis Cooper ◽  
Mark S Sulkowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Treatment Adherence ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Substitution Therapy ◽  
Hcv Treatment ◽  
Opioid Substitution Therapy ◽  
Direct Acting Antiviral ◽  
Direct Acting ◽  
Opioid Substitution

Abstract Background We evaluated the impact of opioid substitution therapy (OST) on the completion, adherence, efficacy, and safety of the 3-direct-acting antiviral regimen of ombitasvir, paritaprevir (identified by AbbVie and Enanta) co-dosed with ritonavir, and dasabuvir ± ribavirin among patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (GT) 1, with or without compensated cirrhosis. Methods Data were pooled from GT1-infected patients enrolled in 12 phase II/III/IIIb clinical trials and categorized by use of OST. Patients with ongoing drug use were excluded. HCV treatment completion, treatment adherence (≥90%), sustained virologic response at post-treatment week 12 (SVR12), and adverse events were assessed. Results Of 4747 patients, 3% (n = 149) received OST. Among patients receiving OST vs those not receiving OST, 82% (n = 122) vs 52% (n = 2409) had GT1a infection; 76% (n = 113) vs 61% (n = 2792) were treatment naïve; and 17% (n = 25) vs 18% (n = 830) had cirrhosis, respectively. The proportion of patients completing HCV treatment did not differ between those receiving and not receiving OST (97% [n = 144] vs 98% [n = 4510], respectively), whereas adherence to treatment was reduced in patients receiving vs those not receiving OST (88% [n = 105] vs 97% [n = 4057], respectively). SVR12 was similar between patients receiving and not receiving OST (94% [n = 140] vs 96% [n = 4405], respectively; P = .273). Treatment was well tolerated. Conclusions Although treatment adherence was lower in patients receiving OST vs those not receiving OST, treatment completion and SVR12 were similar between groups. These data support the use of direct-acting antiviral therapies in patients receiving OST.

scholarly journals Hepatitis C Virus Treatment Access Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-Coinfected People Who Inject Drugs in Guangzhou, China: Implications for HCV Treatment Expansion

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carissa E. Chu ◽  
Feng Wu ◽  
Xi He ◽  
Kali Zhou ◽  
Yu Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
People Who Inject Drugs ◽  
Hiv Treatment ◽  
Direct Acting Antivirals ◽  
Hcv Treatment ◽  
Treatment Access ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Direct Acting

Abstract Background.  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment access among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV-coinfected people who inject drugs is poor, despite a high burden of disease in this population. Understanding barriers and facilitators to HCV treatment uptake is critical to the implementation of new direct-acting antivirals. Methods.  We conducted in-depth interviews with patients, physicians, and social workers at an HIV treatment facility and methadone maintenance treatment centers in Guangzhou, China to identify barriers and facilitators to HCV treatment. We included patients who were in various stages of HCV treatment and those who were not treated. We used standard qualitative methods and organized data into themes. Results.  Interview data from 29 patients, 8 physicians, and 3 social workers were analyzed. Facilitators and barriers were organized according to a modified Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research schematic. Facilitators included patient trust in physicians, hope for a cure, peer networks, and social support. Barriers included ongoing drug use, low HCV disease knowledge, fragmented reimbursement systems, HIV exceptionalism, and stigma. Conclusions.  Expanding existing harm reduction programs, HIV treatment programs, and social services may facilitate scale-up of direct-acting antivirals globally. Improving integration of ancillary social and mental health services within existing HIV care systems may facilitate HCV treatment access.

scholarly journals Measuring Adherence to Hepatitis C Direct-Acting Antiviral Medications: Using the VAS in an HCV Treatment Clinic

2018 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Jane Burton ◽  
Andrew C. Voluse ◽  
Amee B. Patel ◽  
Deborah Konkle-Parker
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Hcv Treatment ◽  
Direct Acting Antiviral ◽  
Treatment Clinic ◽  
Direct Acting ◽  
Antiviral Medications

scholarly journals On the path towards universal coverage of hepatitis C treatment among people receiving opioid agonist therapy (OAT) in Norway: a prospective cohort study from 2013 to 2017

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e036355
Author(s):  
Christer Frode Aas ◽  
Jørn Henrik Vold ◽  
Svetlana Skurtveit ◽  
Ingvild Odsbu ◽  
Fatemeh Chalabianloo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Prospective Cohort ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Universal Coverage ◽  
Prescription Database ◽  
Agonist Therapy ◽  
Hcv Treatment ◽  
Opioid Agonist ◽  
Treatment Coverage ◽  
Opioid Agonist Therapy

ObjectivesWe aimed to calculate cumulative hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment coverage among individuals enrolled in opioid agonist therapy (OAT) in Norway between 2013 and 2017 and to document the treatment transition to direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents. Moreover, we aimed to describe adherence to DAAs in the same cohort.DesignProspective cohort, registry data.SettingSpecialist healthcare service (secondary)Participants and outcomesThis observational study was based on data from The Norwegian Prescription Database. We studied dispensed OAT and HCV treatment annually to calculate the cumulative frequency, and employed secondary sources to calculate prevalence, incidence and HCV treatment coverage from 2013 to 2017, among the OAT population. Factors associated with adherence to DAAs were identified a priori and subject to logistic regression.Results10 371 individuals were identified with dispensed OAT, 1475 individuals of these were identified with dispensed HCV treatment. Annual HCV treatment coverage increased from 3.5% (95% CI: 3.2 to 4.4) in 2013 to 17% (95% CI: 17 to 20) in 2017, giving a cumulative HCV coverage among OAT patients in Norway of 38.5%. A complete shift to interferon-free treatment regimens occurred, where DAAs accounting for 32% of HCV treatments in 2013 and 99% in 2017. About two-thirds of OAT patients were considered adherent to their DAA regimens across all genotypes. High level of OAT continuity was associated with improved adherence to DAAs (adjusted OR 1.4, 95% CI: 1 to 2, p=0.035).ConclusionsA large increase in HCV treatment coverage attributed by a complete shift to interferon-free regimens among the Norwegian OAT population has been demonstrated. However, treatment coverage is inadmissibly too low and a further substantial scale-up in HCV treatment is required to reach the universal targets of controlling and eliminating the HCV endemic.

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