Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41250046›Full record

ArticleBMC infectious diseases2025

A point-of-care testing intervention to improve hepatitis C diagnosis and treatment uptake among people attending Aboriginal community controlled health services: the SCALE-C study.

Samira Hosseini-Hooshyar, Heather Valerio, Erin Flynn, Christopher Sexton, Federica Barzi, Suruchi Amarasena, Lisa De Koster, Donna Sellen, Narelle Winterfield, Jason Grebely and 9 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03776760 (Strategies for Hepatitis C Testing and Treatment in Aboriginal Communities That Lead to Elimination), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

NCT03776760 unknown statusnot on this map

Strategies for Hepatitis C Testing and Treatment in Aboriginal Communities That Lead to Elimination

TypeobservationalSponsorKirby InstituteRan2019 to 2022Enrolled600ConditionsHepatitis C, Hepatitis, Liver Diseases, Hepatitis, Viral, HumanArmsFingerstick GeneXpert HCV RNA quantitative assay, sofosbuvir/velpatesvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

19 authors.

Samira Hosseini-HooshyarThe Kirby Institute, UNSW, Sydney, Australia. shosseini@kirby.unsw.edu.au.
Heather ValerioThe Kirby Institute, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.
Erin FlynnPoche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of Queensland, Toowong, Australia.
Christopher SextonPoche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of Queensland, Toowong, Australia.
Federica BarziPoche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of Queensland, Toowong, Australia.
Suruchi AmarasenaWalhallow Aboriginal Corporation, Tamworth, NSW, Australia.
Lisa De KosterRekindling the Spirit Health Service, Lismore, NSW, Australia.
Donna SellenPort Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service, Port Lincoln, South Australia, Australia.
Narelle WinterfieldPangula Mannamurna Aboriginal Corporation, Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia.
Jason GrebelyThe Kirby Institute, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.
Gail V MatthewsThe Kirby Institute, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.
Mark A BoydFaculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Tanya L ApplegateThe Kirby Institute, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.
Kathy PetoumenosThe Kirby Institute, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.
Lise LaffertyThe Kirby Institute, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.
Gregory J DoreThe Kirby Institute, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.
Carla TreloarCentre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Marianne Martinello *The Kirby Institute, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.
James Ward *Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of Queensland, Toowong, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGlobally, hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination is a priority for marginalised communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. Innovative and equity focused models of care are required to achieve elimination. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate prevalence of, and factors associated with, HCV infection among Aboriginal peoples engaged during implementation of a point-of-care testing and treatment intervention at Aboriginal primary health care services.

methodsThe SCALE-C prospective cohort study implemented a decentralised, on-site community-based "test and treat" intervention through four regional Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (primary care services) in New South Wales and South Australia between May 2019 and July 2022. Following a screening questionnaire (history of HCV infection, injecting drug use, incarceration, opioid agonist therapy use), participants underwent fingerstick point-of-care HCV testing (antibody [no risk] and/or RNA [history of HCV, ever at risk]); those at risk or with current HCV infection were also offered point-of-care HIV and HBV testing, education, and longitudinal follow-up. Participants with current HCV infection were offered DAA treatment. The primary endpoint was current HCV infection, with secondary endpoints including DAA uptake and outcome. Factors associated with current HCV infection were assessed using logistic regression analysis.

resultsOf 536 individuals enrolled (median age 39 years, 49% women, 37% injecting drug use ever, 32% incarceration ever), 79% identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. The proportion with current HCV infection was 9%, ranging from 0.5% among people reporting no lifetime risk to 20% among those reporting risk within the past 12 months. Current HCV infection was associated with recent injecting drug use (adjusted OR: 10.43; 95% CI: 1.34-81.01). Among participants with HCV infection, 62% (28/45) received DAA treatment (median time from enrolment to treatment initiation, nine days [range 2, 22]) and 57% (16/28) of those treated had confirmed sustained virological response (SVR); SVR was 100% (16/16) among those retained in follow up.

conclusionA community-based decentralised on-site "test and treat" intervention integrated within existing Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations was feasible and effective in HCV case detection. While it holds potential for future elimination efforts, health system enhancement will be required (including dedicated staffing and infrastructure) to support broader implementation and improve linkage to care and treatment. CLINICAL TRIAL: This study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03776760) on December 12, 2018.

Indexed as

Health Services, IndigenousHepatitis CPoint-of-Care TestingAdultAustralian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PeoplesCommunity Health ServicesFemaleHepacivirusHumansMaleMiddle AgedNew South WalesPatient Acceptance of Health CarePrevalenceProspective StudiesSouth AustraliaDirect-acting antiviralFirst nationsHCVIndigenousPoint-of-care testing

Identifiers

PMID41250046
PMCPMC12625544

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Registered trials

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.