Assessment of HCV Knowledge & attitudes

Ramya Sundararaman, MD, MPH¹, Nathan Nickerson, RN, MSN², Judith Storfjell, RN, PhD, and Barbara Ginley, MPH². (1) Harvard University, 21 East Bluff Road, Ashland, MA 01721, 508-881-4622, ramya@post.harvard.edu, (2) Portland Public Health

A study to determine knowledge, attitudes and practice among Maine primary care providers (PCPs) and gastroenterologists regarding Hepatitis C Virus (Hepatitis C Virus) infection was taken up on behalf of the Portland Public Health Division and supported in part by an unrestricted education grant from Schering. A paper survey that was sent to all PCPs and gastroenterologists (438) in Maine, with an option of completing the survey by telephone, yielded a response rate of 51%. Results indicate that gastroenterologists are providing most of the care to Hepatitis C Virus patients. 89% of PCPs are currently seeing fewer than 10 Hepatitis C Virus patients and 74% have seen fewer than 10 Hepatitis C Virus patients in the past 3 years. Knowledge gaps in gastroenterologists include needle-stick transmission, unprotected sex with Hepatitis C Virus positive partner and reporting Hepatitis C Virus. Among PCPs, there are gaps in knowledge about transmission of Hepatitis C Virus, systemic effects, diagnostic test, reporting and self-administration of treatment. Nearly all PCP's and gastroenterologists believe that counseling for positive and negative should be provided at the testing centers. 70% of both PCPs and gastroenterologists are in favor of referring patients with Hepatitis C Virus to gastroenterologists. With a growing rate of Hepatitis C Virus infected people, these findings have implications in determining public policy regarding education of PCPs and gastroenterologists. As numbers increase, gastroenterologists will be unable to provide care to all Hepatitis C Virus patients and PCPs must be prepared to take over the care of these people. Hence, PCPs must receive training to manage Hepatitis C Virus infection and steps must be taken to address knowledge gaps in gastroenterologists

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