Assessment of Hepatitis C Virus Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices
among Primary Care Providers in Maine
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
