VIDEO: Resident training program improves HCV screening rates, comfort with treatment
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BOSTON — Residents who learn to screen and treat patients for hepatitis C virus infection in a primary care setting reported feeling more comfortable prescribing treatment, with improved screening rates reported, according to a poster.
To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of training residents in primary care, researchers used an educational model in which a hepatology team worked with residents to screen, identify and treat patients with HCV.
“We did highlight higher risk individuals as not appropriate for the residents to treat, and we tried to use that simplified AASLD guideline as appropriate patients,” Nancy S. Reau, MD, FAASLD, AGAF, professor and associate director of organ transplantation at Rush University, said in a Healio interview.
Of more than 4,100 patient encounters, 671 individuals were screened and 12 were HCV antibody positive, according to results presented at The Liver Meeting. One patient who was HCV RNA positive was referred to the liver clinic and not treated within the resident clinic. In addition, the HCV screening rate improved from 14.99% to 21.67% 3 months after the training.
“We’re also hoping that if a resident is able to treat hepatitis C in their residency in a primary care setting that they will feel more comfortable with screening and then treatment in primary care after they graduate,” Reau said.
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Belilos E, et al. A hepatitis C (HCV) test and treat initiative in resident associated academic primary care clinic: updates in an era of expanded screening guidelines. Presented at: The Liver Meeting; Nov. 10-14, 2023; Boston (hybrid meeting).
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