Meet-Test-Treat for HCV management: patients' and clinicians' preferences in hospital and drug addiction services in Italy

Background It has been estimated that the incidence of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) will not decline over the next 10 years despite the improved efficacy of antiviral therapy because most patients remain undiagnosed and/or untreated. This study aimed to investigate the opinion of relevant target populations on the practicability, effectiveness and best modalities of the test-and-treat approach in the fight against HCV in Italy. Methods A survey was delivered to patients with HCV from the general population, patients from drug addiction services, hospital physicians and healthcare providers for drug addiction services. Results For both hospital clinicians and SerD HCPs, tolerability is shown as the most important feature of a suitable treatment. Time to treatment (the time from first contact to initiation of treatment) is deemed important to the success of the strategy by all actors. While a tolerable treatment was the main characteristic in a preferred care pathway for general patients, subjects from drug addiction services indicated that a complete Meet-Test-Treat pathway is delivered within the habitual care center as a main preference. This is also important for SerD HCPs who are a strong reference for their patients; hospital clinicians were less aware of the importance of the patient-HCP relationship in this process. Conclusion The health system is bound to implement suitable pathways to facilitate HCV eradication. A Meet-Test-Treat program within the drug addiction services may provide good compliance from subjects mainly concerned with virus transmission.

Automated summary

The study findings suggest that tolerability is considered the most important feature of suitable treatment by hospital clinicians and SerD HCPs, and timely treatment initiation is crucial for the success of the strategy. Drug addiction services patients prefer a complete Meet-Test-Treat pathway within their habitual care center.