Hepatitis C virus knowledge improves hepatitis C virus screening practices among primary care physicians

AIM To understand the role of knowledge as a promoter of hepatitis C virus(HCV) screening among primary care physicians(PCP).METHODS A 45-item online questionnaire assessing knowledge of HCV natural history, risk factors, and treatment was distributed to 163 PCP. Logistic regression, adjusted for survey responses, assessed associations between PCP knowledge of HCV natural history and treatment and birth cohort(i.e., birth between 1945 and 1965) screening. Response stratification and weighting were used to account for nonresponse and to permit extension of responses to the entire survey population. Associations between various predictors including demographic characteristics, level of training, and HCV treatment experience and HCV knowledge were assessed.RESULTS Ninety-one individuals(55.8%) responded. Abnormal liver enzymes(49.4%), assessment of HCV-related risk factors(30.6%), and birth cohort membership(20%) were the leading HCV screening indications. Most PCP(64.7%) felt that the combination of risk-factor and birth cohort screening utilizing a self-administered survey while awaiting the physician(55.3%) were the most efficient screening practices. Implementation of birth cohort screening was associated with awareness of the recommendations(P-value = 0.01), knowledge of HCV natural history(P-value < 0.01), and prior management of HCV patients(P-value < 0.01). PCP with knowledge of HCV treatment was also knowledgeable about HCV natural history(P-value < 0.01). Similarly, awareness of age-based screening recommendations was associated with HCV treatment knowledge(P-value = 0.03).CONCLUSION Comprehensive knowledge of HCV is critical to motivate HCV screening. PCP-targeted educational interventions are required to expand the HCV workforce and linkageto-care opportunities as we seek global HCV eradication.

Innovations in education:A prospective study of storytelling narratives to enhance hepatitis C virus knowledge among substance users

BACKGROUND Even though substance users have the highest hepatitis C virus(HCV)burden,many lack knowledge about the infection.Lack of knowledge is an important obstacle to pursuing HCV care.Although printed materials are conventionally utilized to disseminate HCV-related knowledge,narrative story-telling videos may be an alternative.Data are extremely limited,however,in the ability of storytelling videos to increase HCV knowledge among substance users.In this study,we hypothesized that a story-telling narrative video would increase substance user’s immediate and 1-month HCV-related knowledge compared to a printed format.AIM To assess immediate and 1-month HCV-related knowledge retention among substance users comparing education delivered via a storytelling narrative video compared to a printed format.METHODS We conducted a prospective matched,case-control study among substance users actively prescribed buprenorphine enrolled from two sites.The intervention site received the video and the control site,the brochure.Participants(n=176)were matched on age,gender,and race.We obtained extensive patient and stakeholder input on the video’s design,validated the video’s content,and developed a recruitment plan to guide participant enrollment.Knowledge was assessed by administration of a 25-item instrument immediately before,immediately after,or one month after the intervention.Data were analyzed using nonparametric and generalized linear mixed-effects models.RESULTS We recruited a total of 176 substance users,90 and 86 individuals,from each site,respectively.One-month follow up occurred in 92%and 94%of enrollees in the control and intervention groups,respectively.In comparison with the pre-intervention scores,immediate knowledge recall increased significantly for both the intervention(P<0.0001)and control(P<0.0001)groups.Multivariate modeling revealed a significant improvement in HCV-related knowledge and retention(P=0.033)among participants who viewed the storytelling video.CONCLUSION Storytelling narratives emphasizing HCV education appear to be an effective method to increase HCV-related knowledge among substance users.They should become an educational cornerstone to promote HCV management among this population.