High Rates of Uninsured Among HCV-Positive Individuals

Ong, Janus P.; Collantes, Rochelle; Pitts, Angela; Martin, Lisa M.; Sheridan, Michael P.; Younossi, Zobair M.

doi:10.1097/01.mcg.0000177258.95562.43

Cited by 29 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Apart from the barriers experienced by the general population, IDUs have to address additional difficulties in order to gain access to HCV treatment, such as the prerequisites for health insurance coverage, ensuring at least a basic income, avoid living as homeless and pursuit of a minimum of social support [39]. Apparently this process constitutes a difficult journey for IDUs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Access to treatment for Hepatitis C among injection drug users: results from the cross-sectional HOPE IV study

Souliotis

Agapidaki

Papageorgiou

et al. 2017

Int J Equity Health

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BackgroundEvidence suggests that Greece is among the European countries with increased trend in HCV prevalence among injecting drug users (IDUs) from 2008 to 2014. Nonetheless, the access of IDUs to treatment for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is very limited while the risk of co-infection and transmission remains high. In an effort to better understand the inhibitors to HCV treatment, the present study aimed to investigate the main barriers to access in a sample of IDUs.MethodsThe cross-sectional study was carried out between July and September 2015 using a 23-items questionnaire. Participants were recruited from urban primary services, mobile health vans, community health services, day-care centers as well as during street work, located in Athens, Greece. Inclusion criteria were age above 18 years, understanding and speaking Greek sufficiently, HCV diagnosis, intravenous drug use. Data collection was carried out by health professionals of Praksis, a non-governmental organization. For the comparisons of proportions chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used.ResultsThe study sample consisted of 101 HCV patients, 68% male. More than 80% of study participants experienced barriers in accessing their doctor and medication during the past 12 months. The most common obstacles in accessing a doctor were “delay in making the appointment and “difficulties in going to the doctor due to health condition or lack of means of transport”. Access to physician or medication was not differed according to gender, but significant differences were found according to economic status and health insurance coverage. 56.1% of participants reported loss or treatment delay due to barriers to treatment. The majority of participants had deteriorated financial status, health status, access to health services and medication, higher financial burden for health services, worse mental health and lower adherence to medical instructions in 2015 compared to 2009.ConclusionsThe findings from the present study revealed that the vast majority of IDUs experience significant barriers in seeking HCV care in Greece, thus highlighting the need for immediate action in this particular area due to the high risk of co-infection and transmission.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Access to treatment for Hepatitis C among injection drug users: results from the cross-sectional HOPE IV study

Souliotis

Agapidaki

Papageorgiou

et al. 2017

Int J Equity Health

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“…These findings are important in assessing health outcomes for patients, particularly for the uninsured. A study by Ong et al 24 analyzed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data to examine the health insurance status of HCV-positive individuals and found that such individuals were more likely than others to be uninsured.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs of Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

et al. 2014

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Objectives To explore knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and barriers to care among patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Methods Three separate, one-time-only, 60-minutes focus group sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using an editing style of analysis. Results In total, 13 focus group participants provided 254 discrete comments. Emerging themes included: negative lifestyles/behaviors, lack of CLD knowledge, negative attitudes/emotions, stigma and negativity, health insurance, inaccessible/high cost medical care, drug/alcohol abuse, and discriminately sharing CLD diagnoses. Conclusions Participants felt lack of CLD knowledge was a key factor in how patients perceived prevention, risks, causes, and treatment. These findings contribute to the important, yet limited, base of knowledge about CLD and provide a benchmark for future, more extensive studies and interventions.

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“…First, lack of health insurance poses an obvious barrier to testing. In 2001, 30% of patients with hepatitis C were uninsured,12 and this number has likely increased since that time. Second, because hepatitis C is usually asymptomatic, patients without any other medical problems may not seek medical attention.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite these improvements, there are reasons to believe that the uptake of antiviral therapy may be limited. Patients with hepatitis C are more likely to lack health insurance and a usual source of care 12, 13. Studies have demonstrated that primary care physicians lack knowledge about risk factors and testing for hepatitis C 14, 15.…”

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confidence: 99%