Effectiveness of interventions to increase hepatitis C testing uptake among high-risk groups: a systematic review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
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In: European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 24, No. 5, 10.2014, p. 781-8.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
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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 -