TY - JOUR

T1 - Effectiveness of interventions to increase hepatitis C testing uptake among high-risk groups

T2 - a systematic review

AU - Jones, Lisa

AU - Bates, Geoff

AU - McCoy, Ellie

AU - Beynon, Caryl

AU - McVeigh, James

AU - Bellis, Mark A

N1 - © The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

PY - 2014/10

Y1 - 2014/10

N2 - BACKGROUND: People who inject drugs are at the greatest risk of acquiring hepatitis C virus infection in many high-income countries, including those in Europe. Our review examined the effectiveness of interventions aimed at increasing hepatitis C virus testing uptake.METHODS: We undertook a systematic review of controlled studies. Searches of 13 databases were supplemented with citation searching, and manual searches of reference lists and websites. Studies of interventions that aimed to increase testing uptake among high-risk groups were included. Testing uptake was our primary outcome measure of interest and secondary outcomes were engagement in follow-up services and treatment. A narrative synthesis was undertaken.RESULTS: Eight controlled studies were included. Three studies examined interventions in primary care; one examined dried blood spot testing as an alternative method of testing, and two examined outreach provision. Two further studies examined interventions to improve hepatitis C management. Targeted case finding in primary care, support and training for primary care practitioners, offering alternative testing and provision of outreach testing all increased uptake of testing; however, intervention effects were variable.CONCLUSIONS: Evidence from the available studies suggests that increases in testing uptake can be achieved. Careful attention needs to be paid to the resource implications associated with implementation of interventions in primary care settings and also of the potential for interventions to improve outcomes once a positive diagnosis has been made. Further research on the cost-effectiveness of the intervention approaches examined in this review is required.

AB - BACKGROUND: People who inject drugs are at the greatest risk of acquiring hepatitis C virus infection in many high-income countries, including those in Europe. Our review examined the effectiveness of interventions aimed at increasing hepatitis C virus testing uptake.METHODS: We undertook a systematic review of controlled studies. Searches of 13 databases were supplemented with citation searching, and manual searches of reference lists and websites. Studies of interventions that aimed to increase testing uptake among high-risk groups were included. Testing uptake was our primary outcome measure of interest and secondary outcomes were engagement in follow-up services and treatment. A narrative synthesis was undertaken.RESULTS: Eight controlled studies were included. Three studies examined interventions in primary care; one examined dried blood spot testing as an alternative method of testing, and two examined outreach provision. Two further studies examined interventions to improve hepatitis C management. Targeted case finding in primary care, support and training for primary care practitioners, offering alternative testing and provision of outreach testing all increased uptake of testing; however, intervention effects were variable.CONCLUSIONS: Evidence from the available studies suggests that increases in testing uptake can be achieved. Careful attention needs to be paid to the resource implications associated with implementation of interventions in primary care settings and also of the potential for interventions to improve outcomes once a positive diagnosis has been made. Further research on the cost-effectiveness of the intervention approaches examined in this review is required.

KW - Adult

KW - Europe

KW - Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

KW - Health Promotion

KW - Hepatitis C

KW - Humans

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Program Evaluation

KW - Risk

KW - Risk-Taking

KW - Substance Abuse, Intravenous

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

KW - Review

U2 - 10.1093/eurpub/ckt156

DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckt156

M3 - Review article

C2 - 24158318

VL - 24

SP - 781

EP - 788

JO - European Journal of Public Health

JF - European Journal of Public Health

SN - 1101-1262

IS - 5

ER -