Hepatitis C virus knowledge improves hepatitis C virus screening practices among primary care physicians

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Primary Care Medicine

Background:

• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a significant public health concern.
• Effective screening strategies are essential for early detection and treatment of HCV.
• Primary care physicians (PCPs) play a pivotal role in implementing screening protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of primary care physicians' knowledge on hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening practices.
• To identify key factors influencing HCV screening behaviors among PCPs.
• To inform the development of targeted educational interventions for PCPs.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study utilizing a 45-item online questionnaire distributed to 163 PCPs.
• The questionnaire assessed knowledge of HCV natural history, risk factors, and treatment.
• Logistic regression and response stratification were employed to analyze associations between knowledge, screening practices, and demographic factors.

Main Results:

• A response rate of 55.8% (91/163 PCPs) was achieved.
• The primary indications for HCV screening included abnormal liver enzymes (49.4%), risk factor assessment (30.6%), and birth cohort (20%).
• PCPs with greater knowledge of HCV natural history, treatment, and screening recommendations were more likely to implement birth cohort screening.

Conclusions:

• Comprehensive knowledge regarding hepatitis C virus is a critical determinant for motivating screening among primary care physicians.
• Targeted educational initiatives are necessary to enhance the capacity of the HCV workforce.
• Improving PCP knowledge is vital for increasing linkage-to-care opportunities and advancing global HCV eradication efforts.