To implement and evaluate a nurse- and peer-led mobile model of hepatitis C care utilising point-of-care testing for hepatitis C RNA and same-day DAA treatment initiation for people completing community corrections supervision orders at selected sites in Victoria.
2023–2025
A mobile van fitted with medical equipment and staffed by a hepatitis nurse practitioner and peer support worker will park in the vicinity of three metropolitan community corrections facilities to offer hepatitis C testing for individuals attending these sites.
Participants will be tested for current hepatitis C infection using point-of-care fingerstick testing through the mobile van service, which returns a result in ~60 mins.
All participants who have current hepatitis C infection will be offered a clinical assessment and DAA therapy in line with current Australian guidelines.
Following completion of DAA therapy, participants will be offered hepatitis C RNA PCR testing to confirm cure. Hepatitis C information and education will be initiated with anyone having contact with the clinic team, including harm reduction strategies where appropriate.
Using a mixed methods design, we will utilize qualitative, sociodemographic, clinical and operational data to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the nurse- and peer-led mobile model of care for the community corrections population.
This study will:
- Provide convenient and accessible testing and treatment for a group that face barriers accessing healthcare with an opportunity to engage/re-engage in hepatitis C care.
- Test the feasibility and acceptability of rapid point-of-care hepatitis C testing in a non-traditional and non-clinical setting.
- Provide ‘proof of concept’ evidence of feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness for scaling up the model of care.
- Provide cost-per-treatment episode data to compare the cost of the model of care against existing primary care and in-prison hepatitis services.
- Estimate the cost-effectiveness of the C No More model of care.
Doctor Rebecca Winter
Please contact Doctor Rebecca Winter for more information about this project.
Funding
Partners
- Gilead Sciences, Investigator Initiated
- St Vincent’s Hospital Inclusive Health Award
Partners +
Collaborators
- St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (Prof Alexander Thompson, A/Prof Jacinta Holmes, Dr Tim Papaluca)
- Harm Reduction Victoria (Sione Crawford, Jane Dicka)
Project
Team
Meet the project team. Together, we are translating research into better health, for all.
