Analyzing Patient Characteristics Associated With Hepatitis C Follow-Up Care After Implementation Of A Pharmacy Technician-Driven Service
type: CreativeWork
description: Background: Hepatitis C is a chronic, curable, infectious disease that can lead to substantial cost burden when left untreated. Previous studies have examined models of testing and connecting patients to care for hepatitis C and why patients do not follow-up for hepatitis C care. However, no studies have looked at characteristics of patients not connected to care and characteristics associated with follow-up with and without targeted intervention. A pilot program was created through a specialty pharmacy to work on connecting patients to care for hepatitis C, and these characteristics were analyzed. Methods: Patients over the age of 18 with a positive hepatitis C RNA test from the inpatient or emergency department setting from Jan. 1, 2020 to Oct. 15, 2020 were contacted by a specialty pharmacy technician between Dec. 15, 2020 and Jan. 22, 2021. Data was retrospectively analyzed based on outcomes of technician calls and patient information from the EMR. Data points analyzed included patient demographics, test location, hospital site, time to contact, and history of HIV, substance use disorder, or any mental, behavioral, or neurodevelopmental disorder. Patient connection to care was recorded. Results: A total of 231 patients were analyzed. 39 patients (16.9%) had established follow-up prior to the technician calling. 67% of patients were not able to be contacted. There was a statistically significant association between sex and being connected to care prior to the call (χ2 = 7.534, p=0.006). Sex was independently associated with connection to care, with males 2.6 times more likely to not be connected to care (p=0.007, 95% CI (1.298, 5.315)). 35 patients were reached that were not previously connected to care with 24 (68.6%) connected to care. There was a statistically significant interaction between insurance status and being connected to care (Fisher’s Exact Test, p=0.004). Additionally the patients who were more likely to be connected to care were contacted in avera…
abstract: Background: Hepatitis C is a chronic, curable, infectious disease that can lead to substantial cost burden when left untreated. Previous studies have examined models of testing and connecting patients to care for hepatitis C and why patients do not follow-up for hepatitis C care. However, no studies have looked at characteristics of patients not connected to care and characteristics associated with follow-up with and without targeted intervention. A pilot program was created through a specialty pharmacy to work on connecting patients to care for hepatitis C, and these characteristics were analyzed. Methods: Patients over the age of 18 with a positive hepatitis C RNA test from the inpatient or emergency department setting from Jan. 1, 2020 to Oct. 15, 2020 were contacted by a specialty pharmacy technician between Dec. 15, 2020 and Jan. 22, 2021. Data was retrospectively analyzed based on outcomes of technician calls and patient information from the EMR. Data points analyzed included patient demographics, test location, hospital site, time to contact, and history of HIV, substance use disorder, or any mental, behavioral, or neurodevelopmental disorder. Patient connection to care was recorded. Results: A total of 231 patients were analyzed. 39 patients (16.9%) had established follow-up prior to the technician calling. 67% of patients were not able to be contacted. There was a statistically significant association between sex and being connected to care prior to the call (χ2 = 7.534, p=0.006). Sex was independently associated with connection to care, with males 2.6 times more likely to not be connected to care (p=0.007, 95% CI (1.298, 5.315)). 35 patients were reached that were not previously connected to care with 24 (68.6%) connected to care. There was a statistically significant interaction between insurance status and being connected to care (Fisher’s Exact Test, p=0.004). Additionally the patients who were more likely to be connected to care were contacted in avera…
author: Bujnoch, Tatiana
language: eng
keywords: hepatitis C, transitions of care
date published: 2021-05
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:33:06Z
provider: University of Houston
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Houston

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/10657/8207