Davina Swan1, Walter Cullen1, Juan Macias2, Cristiana Oprea3,4, Alistair Story5, Julian Surey6, Peter Vickerman7, John S Lambert1,8. 1. a UCD School of Medicine , University College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland. 2. b Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología , Hospital Universitario de Valme , Seville , Spain. 3. c Infectious Diseases Department , Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases , Bucharest , Romania. 4. d Infectious Diseases Department , Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Bucharest , Romania. 5. e Find & Treat Service , University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , London , UK. 6. f Institute of Global Health , University College London , London , UK. 7. g School of Social and Community Medicine, Oakfield House , University of Bristol , Bristol , UK. 8. h Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases , Mater Misericordiae University Hospital , Dublin , Ireland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C (HCV) infection is highly prevalent among people who inject drugs (PWID). Many PWID are unaware of their infection and few have received HCV treatment. Recent developments in treatment offer cure rates >90%. However, the potential of these treatments will only be realised if HCV identification among PWID with linkage to treatment is optimised. This paper describes the Hepcare Europe project, a collaboration between five institutions across four member states (Ireland, UK, Spain, Romania), to develop, implement and evaluate interventions to improve the identification, evaluation and treatment of HCV among PWID. METHODS: A service innovation project and a mixed-methods, pre-post intervention study, Hepcare will design and deliver interventions in Dublin, London, Seville and Bucharest to enhance PWID engagement and retention in the cascade of HCV care. RESULTS: The feasibility, acceptability, potential efficacy and cost-effectiveness of these interventions to improve care processes and outcomes among PWID will be evaluated. CONCLUSION: Hepcare has the potential to make an important impact on patient care for marginalised populations who might otherwise go undiagnosed and untreated. Lessons learned from the study can be incorporated into national and European guidelines and strategies for HCV.
BACKGROUND:Hepatitis C (HCV) infection is highly prevalent among people who inject drugs (PWID). Many PWID are unaware of their infection and few have received HCV treatment. Recent developments in treatment offer cure rates >90%. However, the potential of these treatments will only be realised if HCV identification among PWID with linkage to treatment is optimised. This paper describes the Hepcare Europe project, a collaboration between five institutions across four member states (Ireland, UK, Spain, Romania), to develop, implement and evaluate interventions to improve the identification, evaluation and treatment of HCV among PWID. METHODS: A service innovation project and a mixed-methods, pre-post intervention study, Hepcare will design and deliver interventions in Dublin, London, Seville and Bucharest to enhance PWID engagement and retention in the cascade of HCV care. RESULTS: The feasibility, acceptability, potential efficacy and cost-effectiveness of these interventions to improve care processes and outcomes among PWID will be evaluated. CONCLUSION: Hepcare has the potential to make an important impact on patient care for marginalised populations who might otherwise go undiagnosed and untreated. Lessons learned from the study can be incorporated into national and European guidelines and strategies for HCV.
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Authors: Desmond Crowley; John S Lambert; Graham Betts-Symonds; Walter Cullen; Mary Keevans; Enda Kelly; Eamon Laird; Tina McHugh; Susan McKiernan; Sarah Jayne Miggin; Carol Murphy; Ross Murtagh; Deirdre O'Reilly; Ciara Tobin; Marie Claire Van Hout Journal: Euro Surveill Date: 2019-04
Authors: John S Lambert; Ross Murtagh; Dee Menezes; Austin O'Carroll; Carol Murphy; Walter Cullen; Tina McHugh; Gordana Avramovic; Willard Tinago; Marie Claire Van Hout Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2019-02-07 Impact factor: 3.090
Authors: Desmond Crowley; Ross Murtagh; Walter Cullen; Mary Keevans; Eamon Laird; Tina McHugh; Susan McKiernan; Sarah Jayne Miggin; Eileen O'Connor; Deirdre O'Reilly; Graham Betts-Symonds; Ciara Tobin; Marie Claire Van Hout; John S Lambert Journal: Harm Reduct J Date: 2019-07-05
Authors: Andrew Radley; Emma Robinson; Esther J Aspinall; Kathryn Angus; Lex Tan; John F Dillon Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2019-10-28 Impact factor: 2.655