• Pedrana, Alisa
• Walsh, Louisa
• Hughes, Megan
• Shaw, David
• Fowlie, Carrie
• Mcmahon, Maria
• Crawford, Sione
• Casey, Dawn
• Singhal, Shweta
• Thompson, Alex
• Manu, Geoff
• Drenkhahn, Geoff
• Rees, Tom
• Dore, Greg
• Partnership, On Behalf Of The Ec Australia
• Scott, Nick
• Marshall, Catherine
• Wilkinson, Anna L.
• Selvey, Linda
• Richmond, Jacqueline A.
• Christensen, Shannon
• Hellard, Margaret
• Llyod, Andrew
• Davies, Jane
• Sattell, Garry
• Doyle, Joseph S.
• Dawe, Joshua
• Stoove, Mark
• Ward, James
• Howell, Jess
• Bastian, Lisa
• Michaels, Jessica
• Owen, Louise
• Bryant, Mellissa

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction</jats:title><jats:p>Australia has experienced sustained reductions in hepatitis C testing and treatment and may miss its 2030 elimination targets. Addressing gaps in community-based hepatitis C prescribing in priority settings that did not have, or did not prioritise, hepatitis C testing and treatment care pathways is critical.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>The Tasmanian Eliminate Hepatitis C Australia Outreach Project delivered a nurse-led outreach model of care servicing hepatitis C priority populations in the community through the Tasmanian Statewide Sexual Health Service, supported by the Eliminating Hepatitis C Australia partnership. Settings included alcohol and other drug services, needle and syringe programs and mental health services. The project provided clients with clinical care across the hepatitis C cascade of care, including testing, treatment, and post-treatment support and hepatitis C education for staff.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Between July 2020 and July 2022, a total of 43 sites were visited by one Clinical Nurse Consultant. There was a total of 695 interactions with clients across 219 days of service delivery by the Clinical Nurse Consultant. A total of 383 clients were tested for hepatitis C (antibody, RNA, or both). A total of 75 clients were diagnosed with hepatitis C RNA, of which 95% (71/75) commenced treatment, 83% (62/75) completed treatment and 52% (39/75) received a negative hepatitis C RNA test at least 12 weeks after treatment completion.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>Providing outreach hepatitis C services in community-based services was effective in engaging people living with and at-risk of hepatitis C, in education, testing, and care. Nurse-led, person-centred care was critical to the success of the project. Our evaluation underscores the importance of employing a partnership approach when delivering hepatitis C models of care in community settings, and incorporating workforce education and capacity-building activities when working with non-specialist healthcare professionals.</jats:p></jats:sec>

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• size-exclusion chromatography
• alcohol