利用通知数据提高昆士兰州丙型肝炎检测和治疗率。
Using notifications data to increase hepatitis C testing and treatment rates in Queensland.
机构信息
School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland 4006.
Communicable Diseases Branch, Queensland Public Health and Scientific Services, Queensland Health.
出版信息
Commun Dis Intell (2018). 2023 Oct 19;47. doi: 10.33321/cdi.2023.47.62.
Australia's goal of eliminating hepatitis C by 2030 requires increases in uptake of and access to testing and treatment. As hepatitis C is a notifiable condition, health departments have access to information about people exposed to the hepatitis C virus (HCV), including the details of notifying clinicians who ordered their diagnostic pathology tests. Hepatitis C RNA testing confirms active infection that requires treatment, whereas a positive antibody test result only indicates prior exposure to the virus. We undertook a pilot project in Queensland to follow up hepatitis C notifications with clinicians, aiming to increase HCV-RNA testing and treatment uptake. For all individuals with a first-time hepatitis C notification in Queensland between 3 November 2020 and 28 May 2021, we sought information regarding hepatitis C RNA testing from laboratories, excluding those cases diagnosed in prisons. Cases who did not have RNA testing identified as part of or after their initial diagnostic tests were followed up via their notifying clinician. Interviews with selected clinicians were undertaken to improve our understanding of the follow-up process. There were 769 new hepatitis C notifications during our study period: 244 had no subsequent RNA test identified and were followed up for this study. Of these, 134 cases were lost to follow-up; 26 were already being effectively case managed; 22 reported previous treatment and no further risk; and 62 were eligible for HCV-RNA testing. Twenty-six cases subsequently started hepatitis C treatment. Thirty-four percent of notifications that required follow-up resulted from testing initially requested in hospital settings. Following up hepatitis C notifications can result in increased treatment rates; however, the process was resource-intensive and often failed to result in further contact between clinicians and patients. Our findings also highlight the importance of supporting better continuity of care between hospitals and community settings.
澳大利亚到 2030 年消除丙型肝炎的目标需要增加检测和治疗的覆盖率和可及性。由于丙型肝炎是一种须报告的疾病,卫生部门可以获得接触丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)的人的信息,包括通知为其进行诊断性病理学检测的临床医生的详细信息。丙型肝炎 RNA 检测可确认需要治疗的活动性感染,而阳性抗体检测结果仅表明之前曾接触过该病毒。我们在昆士兰州开展了一项试点项目,目的是跟进丙型肝炎的临床医生通知,以增加 HCV-RNA 检测和治疗的覆盖率。对于 2020 年 11 月 3 日至 2021 年 5 月 28 日期间昆士兰州首次丙型肝炎报告的所有个体,我们从实验室中寻找有关丙型肝炎 RNA 检测的信息,不包括在监狱中诊断出的病例。那些在最初诊断性检测中或之后未进行 RNA 检测的病例,通过报告他们的临床医生进行了随访。我们对选定的临床医生进行了访谈,以加深我们对随访过程的理解。在我们的研究期间,有 769 例新的丙型肝炎报告:其中 244 例没有随后的 RNA 检测,是为这项研究而进行的随访。在这些病例中,有 134 例失访;26 例已得到有效管理;22 例报告了之前的治疗和无进一步风险;62 例有资格进行 HCV-RNA 检测。26 例随后开始丙型肝炎治疗。需要随访的报告中有 34%最初是在医院环境中请求进行的检测。对丙型肝炎报告进行随访可提高治疗率;然而,该过程资源密集,且常常无法导致临床医生和患者之间进一步的接触。我们的研究结果还强调了支持医院和社区环境之间更好的连续性护理的重要性。