Abstract A22: Programmatic implementation of hepatocellular carcinoma prevention through hepatitis C testing, secondary prevention, and treatment for a medically and minority underserved population

This study assessed the programmatic implementation of a multi-disciplinary program to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma through hepatitis C (HCV) testing, secondary prevention among diagnosed individuals (defined as interventions that prevent further progression of liver disease), and treatment within a medically and minority underserved clinic.The Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion (LCRP) at St. Joseph's/Candler Health System is a Community Cancer Center and regional destination for cancer care in coastal Georgia. LCRP disparities efforts focus on cancer prevention, screening, and facilitating access to cancer care at two clinics for underserved and uninsured, low-income, predominately African American and Hispanic populations. Because the primary cause of hepatocellular carcinoma is cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis infection, in 2014 the LCRP began implementing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for HCV testing as a cancer prevention activity at the clinics.As HCV patients were identified, it became clear that disease specific protocols needed to be developed in order to improve nurse practitioners' clinical practice. Barriers identified and addressed during program implementation included: 1) perception that expensive HCV treatment is inaccessible for uninsured patients, 2) lack of knowledge of CDC clinical testing guidelines resulting in inaccurate HCV diagnosis 3) lack of knowledge of secondary prevention and treatment leading to inappropr...
Source: Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Community-Based Interventions: Poster Presentations - Proffered Abstracts Source Type: research