Implementation and Evaluation of a Collaborative, Pharmacy-Based Hepatitis C and HIV Screening Program

Details

• Journal Article:
  Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD)
• Personal Author:
  Klepser, Donald G. ; Klepser, Michael E. ; Peters, Philip J. ; Hoover, Karen W. ; Weidle, Paul J.
• Description:
  Introduction ; Pharmacy-based HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening services developed in conjunction with state and local health departments can improve public health through increased access to testing and a linkage-to-care strategy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of implementing HIV and HCV screening in community pharmacies. ; Methods ; This prospective, multicenter implementation project was conducted from July 2015 through August 2018. Sixty-one pharmacies participated in 3 US regions. We assessed the effectiveness of point-of-care testing, counseling, and disease education for populations at increased risk for HIV and HCV infection through screening programs offered in community pharmacies. Pharmacy customers were offered screening with point-of-care HIV and/or HCV tests. Reactive test results were reported to state or local health departments for disease surveillance. ; Results ; A total of 1,164 patients were screened for HIV, HCV, or both at the 61 participating pharmacies; the average number of patients screened per pharmacy was 19. Pharmacists conducted 1,479 HIV or HCV tests among the 1,164 patients. Five of 612 (0.8%) HIV tests yielded a reactive result, and 181 of 867 (20.9%) of HCV tests yielded a reactive result. ; Conclusion ; Patients at increased risk of HIV or HCV can benefit from screening for infection at community pharmacies. Ease of accessibility to testing coupled with a strategy for linkage to care designed for the local community can improve patient care and improve the course of treatment for HIV and HCV.
• Subjects:
  • Humans
  • Pharmacies
  • Hepacivirus
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pharmacy
  • Hepatitis C
  • HIV Infections
• Source:
  Prev Chronic Dis. 2022; 19
• DOI:
  http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd19.220129
• ISSN:
  1545-1151
• Pubmed ID:
  36480802
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC9746706
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Volume:
  19
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/123010/cdc_123010_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 376.44 KB]
• Collection(s):
  Preventing Chronic Disease
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:529c3f86ccd43e4766521be536f2c676be7383715fc4ed756aed7a6eda2ec9cac82c8603ea5eb86454eb7c54ddf8b8f00ae98911ea8b2883edc52f3ab0588495