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HCV Screening at Teaching Clinic Failed to Meet CDC Recommendation
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NEW YORK — A majority of age-appropriate patients seen at a resident-run clinic were not screened for hepatitis C virus infection by physicians despite such a recommendation from the CDC, according to a presentation at the AASLD/EASL Special Conference on Hepatitis C.
Researchers, including Stanley M. Cohen, MD, of University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Ohio, conducted a retrospective chart review of 315 patients seen at a university-based clinic during a 3-month span. With the CDC’s recommended guidelines calling for patients born between 1945 and 1965 to undergo a one-time HCV screening, researchers sought to determine the screening rate and any barriers to screening in this age group. In addition, resident providers were asked to complete an online questionnaire about screening prevalence and any reasons for not performing it.
Stanley M. Cohen
During the study period, 315 patients made 396 visits. One hundred sixteen patients previously were screened for HCV, however, only six patients were screened during the study period.
“Data indicated that of 199 eligible patients seen during the study period, only six (3%) were actually screened for hepatitis C," Cohen told HCV Next.
The self-reported screening rate for HCV among 45 resident physicians was 22.2%; however, the rate was seven times greater than what researchers observed. The most commonly reported reasons for nonscreening included providers being unaware of screening guidelines (42.2%) and medically complex patients leaving insufficient time for screening (40%), the researchers wrote.
“Patients in the age-cohort are not being screened [and] the main reasons for not screening are lack of knowledge of the CDC screening guidelines, as well as overall complexity of patients seen," Cohen told HCV Next. – by Melinda Stevens
For more information:
Cohen SM. Abstract #77. Presented at: AASLD/EASL Special Conference on Hepatitis C, Sept. 12-13, 2014; New York.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.