Journal article
A survey of hepatitis C management by Victorian GPs after PBS-listing of direct-acting antiviral therapy
A Wade, B Draper, J Doyle, N Allard, P Grinzi, A Thompson, M Hellard
Australian Family Physician | ROYAL AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE GENERAL PRACTITIONERS | Published : 2017
Abstract
Background and objective To increase access to hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) enabled general practitioners (GPs) to prescribe directacting antiviral (DAA) therapy. We conducted a survey to identify GPs' knowledge and management of HCV. Methods A questionnaire consisting of 20 items about HCV knowledge and management was sent to 1000 GPs. Results One hundred and ninety-one GPs (19.1%) responded; 74% answered correctly that antibody and RNA positivity is diagnostic of HCV. Only 12% could directly request transient elastography. Although 53% of respondents reported interest in prescribing DAAs, 72% continued to refer all patients to specialists. Fif..
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Funding Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution to this work of the Victoria Operational Infrastructure Support Program's funding for the Burnet Institute. JD, MH, AW and AT acknowledge support from the National Health and Medical Research Council.