Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31288252›Full record

ArticleFrontline gastroenterology2019

Facilitating treatment of HCV in primary care in regional Australia: closing the access gap.

Lauren White, Ali Azzam, Lauren Burrage, Clare Orme, Barbara Kay, Sarah Higgins, Simone Kaye, Andrew Sloss, Jennifer Broom, Nicola Weston and 2 more

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontline gastroenterology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 22% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Overcoming barriers to hepatitis C elimination.Frontline gastroenterology · 2019
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Lauren WhiteSunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, Queensland, Australia.
Ali AzzamSunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, Queensland, Australia.
Lauren BurrageSunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, Queensland, Australia.
Clare OrmeSunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, Queensland, Australia.
Barbara KaySunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, Queensland, Australia.
Sarah HigginsSunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, Queensland, Australia.
Simone KayeSunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, Queensland, Australia.
Andrew SlossSunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, Queensland, Australia.
Jennifer BroomSunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, Queensland, Australia.
Nicola WestonSunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, Queensland, Australia.
Jonathan MitchellSunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, Queensland, Australia.
James O'BeirneSunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3400-2816
Sunshine Coast University Hospital · AUThe University of Queensland · AUUniversity of the Sunshine Coast · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAustralia has unrestricted access to direct-acting antivirals (DAA) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment. In order to increase access to treatment, primary care providers are able to prescribe DAA after fibrosis assessment and specialist consultation. Transient elastography (TE) is recommended prior to commencement of HCV treatment; however, TE is rarely available outside secondary care centres in Australia and therefore a requirement for TE could represent a barrier to access to HCV treatment in primary care.

objectivesIn order to bridge this access gap, we developed a community-based TE service across the Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay areas of Queensland.

designRetrospective analysis of a prospectively recorded HCV treatment database.

interventionsA nurse-led service equipped with two mobile Fibroscan units assesses patients in eight locations across regional Queensland. Patients are referred into the service via primary care and undergo nurse-led TE at a location convenient to the patient. Patients are discussed at a weekly multidisciplinary team meeting and a treatment recommendation made to the referring GP. Treatment is initiated and monitored in primary care. Patients with cirrhosis are offered follow-up in secondary care.

results327 patients have undergone assessment and commenced treatment in primary care. Median age 48 years (IQR 38-56), 66% male. 57% genotype 1, 40% genotype 3; 82% treatment naïve; 10% had cirrhosis (liver stiffness >12.5 kPa). The majority were treated with sofosbuvir-based regimens. 26% treated with 8-week regimens. All patients had treatment prescribed and monitored in primary care. Telephone follow-up to confirm sustained virological response (SVR) was performed by clinic nurses. 147 patients remain on treatment. 180 patients have completed treatment. SVR data were not available for 19 patients (lost to follow-up). Intention-to-treat SVR rate was 85.5%. In patients with complete data SVR rate was 95.6%.

conclusionCommunity-based TE assessment facilitates access to HCV treatment in primary care with excellent SVR rates.

Indexed as

antiviral therapyhepatitis cprimary care

Identifiers

PMID31288252
PMCPMC6583569
OpenAlexW2898272070

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.