Safety and Effectiveness of a Nurse-Led Outreach Program for Assessment and Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in the Custodial Setting

Аннотация

The global burden of disease attributable to chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is very large, yet the uptake of curative antiviral therapies remains very low, reflecting the marginalized patient population and the arduous nature of current treatments. Methods. The safety and effectiveness of a nurse-led model of care of inmates with chronic HCV was evaluated in Australian correctional centers. The model featured protocol-driven assessment, triage, and management of antiviral therapy by specifically trained nurses, with specialist physician support utilizing telemedicine. Outcomes were evaluated qualitatively with key informant interviews, and quantitatively with patient numbers completing key clinical milestones and adverse events.