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Abstract Details
Personal, provider and system level barriers and enablers for hepatitis C treatment in the era of direct-acting antivirals: Experiences of patients who inject drugs accessing treatment in general practice settings in Australia
Emma Heard1, Andrew Smirnov2, Luciana Massi3, Linda A Selvey4
Author information
1School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, 288 Herston Road, Herston 4006, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: emmaheard@uqconnect.edu.au.
2School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, 288 Herston Road, Herston 4006, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: a.smirnov@uq.edu.au.
3School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, 288 Herston Road, Herston 4006, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: luciana.massi@cdu.edu.au.
4School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, 288 Herston Road, Herston 4006, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: l.selvey@uq.edu.au.
Abstract
Direct acting antiviral (DAA) treatment has made the elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) a realisable global public health goal and people who inject drugs are a key target population. This study investigates barriers and enablers to DAA treatment of HCV in general practice settings in Australia, from the patient perspective. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 patients; of these patients, seventeen participants were currently on opioid agonist therapy, and four were currently injecting drugs. Thematic data analysis was undertaken and a personal, provider and systems framework was used to describe the barriers and enablers to DAA treatment. Results suggest a range of initiatives are required to support the uptake of DAA in general practice settings. These include the provision of formalised peer information and support, and increasing the accessibility of blood tests and liver assessment on-site. Further, there remains a need to address stigma and discrimination affecting people who inject drugs in community healthcare settings.