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Context of Clinical Care: The Case of Hepatitis C in Underserved Communities—A Report from the Primary Care Multiethnic Network (PRIME Net) Consortium

Department of Medicine (RRL, PK), University of New Mexico; Albuquerque
Department of Family and Community Medicine (RLW, DRP, BS), University of New Mexico; Albuquerque
Health Science Library and Informatics Center (PK), University of New Mexico; Albuquerque
Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado; Denver (WP, BP)
National Center for Primary Care, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (YF-J, ED)
Departments of Family Medicine and Epidemiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing (DRP)

Correspondence: Corresponding author: Robert L. Williams, MD, MPH, Department of Family and Community Medicine, MSC 09–5040, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 (E-mail: rlwilliams{at}salud.unm.edu)

Background: The importance of Hepatitis C (HCV) as a public and individual health concern is well established. However, national groups differ in their recommendations to primary care clinicians about screening people at high risk for HCV. The purpose of this study was to explore the context of care within which primary care clinicians decide to detect and initially manage HCV.

Methods: The Primary Care Multiethnic Network conducted a web- and paper-based survey of primary care clinicians who largely practice in low-income, medically underserved communities in 3 regions across the country.

Results: A total of 494 clinicians participated, for a response rate of 61%. Most (68%) clinicians view HCV as an important problem; more than half (59%) consider screening for HCV to be important when compared with other conditions they screen for in practice. With regard to reported screening habits for risk factors, 54% of clinicians routinely ask new patients whether they have used intravenous drugs and 28% inquire about blood transfusions before 1992. Sixty-one percent order an alanine aminotransferase test when patients present with other risk factors for HCV. The majority of clinicians (54%) refer 75% or fewer of their patients with HCV for treatment; nearly one-fifth (18%) provide antiviral treatment themselves. Key factors influencing clinician HCV decision making are patient comorbidities (74% reported this as a factor), access to treatment (55% reported this as a factor), and tolerance (44% reported this as a factor) of treatment.

Conclusions: In the face of conflicting national guideline recommendations about screening people at high risk for HCV, clinicians have varied views and practice habits influenced by multiple patient, access, and treatment issues.

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