Interventions to increase linkage to care and adherence to treatment for hepatitis C among people who inject drugs: A systematic review and practical considerations from an expert panel consultation

Schwarz, Tanja; Horvath, Ilonka; Lydia, Fenz; Schmutterer, Irene; Rosian-Schikuta, Ingrid; Mårdh, Otilia

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103588

Cited by 28 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The care cascade of the patient with HCV infection refers to the diagnostic-therapeutic path that starts with diagnosis and goes from linkage to care to treatment and subsequent follow-up. Despite the high rate of diagnosis of HCV infection, in the PWUDs population it is historically challenging to achieve an adequate treatment (linkage to care) and adherence to therapy (compliance) ( Figure 1 ) [ 23 ].…”

Section: Hcv Care Cascade In Pwudsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several models aimed to enhance the efficiency of the HCV care cascade among PWUDs have been evaluated. Overall, integrated assistance and simplified access to services have been shown to implement the number of patients referred for treatment and to improve compliance [ 23 ]. In this regard, Messina et al [ 31 ] have demonstrated that creating a direct link between prescribing centers and public services for addiction that are adequately prepared and able to provide all diagnostic tools locally significantly increases the number of diagnoses of active infection and HCV-positive PWUDs initiated for antiviral treatment.…”

Section: Treatment Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regardless of the location (central or territorial), the integration of the care system significantly simplifies the management of the HCV-positive PWUD patient, reduces treatment times, and increases adherence. The presence of integrated care facilities where the patient is able to complete the diagnostic tests and the subsequent antiviral treatment also reduces the possibility of drop-out and improves the continuum of care [ 23 ]. In loco testing, facilitated referral for HCV assessment and addiction, and a multidisciplinary team providing psychiatric services could further increase the proportion of HCV-positive PWUDs who receive antiviral treatment and achieve an SVR, maximizing the outcomes of the HCV care cascade [ 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 ].…”

Section: Treatment Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the setting of the PWUDs population, the integration of care services provides the best results when decentralized [ 33 ], particularly when it get to the level of services for addiction [ 42 ]. In fact, since the PWUD population routinely needs different services (e.g., needle and syringe programs, OST), the inclusion of health services that allow a “one-stop shop” model of care can be a key factor for the removal of existing barriers and the success of these strategies [ 23 ]. The French approach for the prevention and treatment of chronic HCV infection in PWUDs is based exactly on these principles [ 67 ].…”

Section: Treatment Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If qualified, peer mentors can play a relevant care role, guiding the patient from diagnostic tests to completion of treatment. Overall, peer support interventions seem to have a positive but non-significant impact in optimizing linkage to care and therapeutic adherence [ 23 ]. They seem to be useful in terms of customizing the management of the HCV care cascade.…”

Section: Treatment Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Can Telemedicine Optimize the HCV Care Cascade in People Who Use Drugs? Features of an Innovative Decentralization Model and Comparison with Other Micro-Elimination Strategies

Nevola

Rosato²,

Conturso³

et al. 2022

Biology

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People who use drugs (PWUDs) are a crucial population in the global fight against viral hepatitis. The difficulties in linkage to care, the low adherence to therapy, the frequent loss to follow-up and the high risk of re-infection make the eradication process of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) really hard in this viral reservoir. Several management and treatment models have been tested with the aim of optimizing the HCV care cascade in PWUDs. Models of decentralization of the care process and integration of services seem to provide the highest success rates. Giving this, telemedicine could favor the decentralization of diagnostic-therapeutic management, key for the implementation of linkage to care, reduction of waiting times, optimization of adherence and results and reduction of the costs. The purpose of this literature review is to examine the role and possible impact of telemedicine in optimizing the HCV care cascade, comparing the different care models that have shown to improve the linkage to care and therapeutic adherence in this special population.

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Section: Hcv Care Cascade In Pwudsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Treatment Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Treatment Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Treatment Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Treatment Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Can Telemedicine Optimize the HCV Care Cascade in People Who Use Drugs? Features of an Innovative Decentralization Model and Comparison with Other Micro-Elimination Strategies

Nevola

Rosato²,

Conturso³

et al. 2022

Biology

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APPEAL: a toolkit for attracting people who inject drugs with hepatitis C to healthcare systems

Baptista-Leite,

Lopes,

Franco

et al. 2024

J Public Health (Berl.)

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Aim The “APPEAL” toolkit was developed to address the challenges in diagnosing people who inject drugs (PWID) with hepatitis C (HCV) and engaging them with healthcare systems. It introduces an ecosystemic approach based on health and well-being literacy across awareness, prevention and diagnosis dimensions of the hepatitis C’s care cascade (CC) for PWID. Subject and methods The framework incorporated a scoping review and thematic analysis of 54 studies, alongside contributions from 57 hepatitis C key opinion leaders across seven countries. The toolkit is structured around five main axes: problems, solutions, outputs, outcomes and feedback process, employing a holistic perspective that considers economic, legal and social contexts. Eighteen policy prescriptions (PP) are proposed and supported by selective references to ensure relevance and applicability. Results The APPEAL toolkit facilitates a strategic workflow for policymakers, health authorities and patient advocacy organizations, guiding them through action flowcharts to evaluate and enhance their interventions within the hepatitis C’s CC for PWID. Notably, its implementation demonstrated potential in identifying and attracting PWID to hepatitis C treatment pathways, contributing to increased diagnostics, education on risk behaviours and raising overall disease awareness. The toolkit’s intelligent cycle system supports accountability, enabling continuous data-driven improvement and innovation in addressing hepatitis C. Conclusion The APPEAL toolkit was developed to attract PWID living with HCV to healthcare systems in a proactive manner. By managing information and fostering education on HCV, it aims to amplify awareness, prevention and diagnosis. The toolkit’s design and functionality underscore the importance of continuous quality improvement and the potential for its use in internal or external quality audits of healthcare services related to hepatitis C.

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‘It's a different way to do medicine’: Exploring the affordances of telehealth for hepatitis C healthcare

Fomiatti

Shaw

Fraser

2022

International Journal of Drug Policy

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Interventions to increase linkage to care and adherence to treatment for hepatitis C among people who inject drugs: A systematic review and practical considerations from an expert panel consultation

Cited by 28 publications

References 43 publications

Can Telemedicine Optimize the HCV Care Cascade in People Who Use Drugs? Features of an Innovative Decentralization Model and Comparison with Other Micro-Elimination Strategies

Can Telemedicine Optimize the HCV Care Cascade in People Who Use Drugs? Features of an Innovative Decentralization Model and Comparison with Other Micro-Elimination Strategies

APPEAL: a toolkit for attracting people who inject drugs with hepatitis C to healthcare systems

‘It's a different way to do medicine’: Exploring the affordances of telehealth for hepatitis C healthcare

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