TY - JOUR
T1 - Using mass media and the Internet as tools to diagnose hepatitis C infections in the general population
AU - Zuure, Freke R
AU - Davidovich, Udi
AU - Coutinho, Roel A
AU - Kok, Gerjo
AU - Hoebe, Christian J P A
AU - van den Hoek, Anneke
AU - Jansen, Peter L M
AU - van Leeuwen-Gilbert, Paula
AU - Verheuvel, Nicole C
AU - Weegink, Christine J
AU - Prins, Maria
N1 - Copyright © 2011 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2011/3
Y1 - 2011/3
N2 - BACKGROUND: Many individuals with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are undiagnosed.PURPOSE: This study describes the development and the use and outcomes of a mass media campaign, combined with an Internet risk assessment and an Internet-mediated blood-testing procedure for HCV to identify individuals infected with HCV in the general population.METHODS: From April 2007 to December 2008, individuals in HCV risk groups were referred to an online, previously validated risk-assessment questionnaire at www.heptest.nl. Individuals at risk could download a referral letter for a free, anonymous HCV blood test in a nonclinical setting. Test results could be obtained online, 1 week later, using a personal log-in code. Anti-HCV-positive participants were requested to visit the Public Health Service for confirmation and RNA testing. Chronically HCV-infected individuals were referred for treatment. Data were analyzed in 2009-2010.RESULTS: The website attracted 40,902 visitors. Of the 9653 who completed the questionnaire, 2553 were at risk for HCV (26.4%). Main reported risk factors were a blood transfusion prior to 1992 and noninjecting drug use. Of the 1480 eligible for the blood test, 420 opted for testing (28%). HCV antibodies were detected in 3.6% (n=15, 95% CI=2.1%, 5.7%); of the 12 with a chronic HCV infection, six began treatment.CONCLUSIONS: Internet-mediated risk-based testing for HCV has proved to be a feasible and effective strategy to identify undiagnosed HCV infection in the general population. All HCV-infected individuals belonged to hard-to-reach populations. Test uptake was 28%, which is high for an online project that includes blood testing. Because Internet-mediated testing is low-cost, this strategy holds promise for future screening.
AB - BACKGROUND: Many individuals with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are undiagnosed.PURPOSE: This study describes the development and the use and outcomes of a mass media campaign, combined with an Internet risk assessment and an Internet-mediated blood-testing procedure for HCV to identify individuals infected with HCV in the general population.METHODS: From April 2007 to December 2008, individuals in HCV risk groups were referred to an online, previously validated risk-assessment questionnaire at www.heptest.nl. Individuals at risk could download a referral letter for a free, anonymous HCV blood test in a nonclinical setting. Test results could be obtained online, 1 week later, using a personal log-in code. Anti-HCV-positive participants were requested to visit the Public Health Service for confirmation and RNA testing. Chronically HCV-infected individuals were referred for treatment. Data were analyzed in 2009-2010.RESULTS: The website attracted 40,902 visitors. Of the 9653 who completed the questionnaire, 2553 were at risk for HCV (26.4%). Main reported risk factors were a blood transfusion prior to 1992 and noninjecting drug use. Of the 1480 eligible for the blood test, 420 opted for testing (28%). HCV antibodies were detected in 3.6% (n=15, 95% CI=2.1%, 5.7%); of the 12 with a chronic HCV infection, six began treatment.CONCLUSIONS: Internet-mediated risk-based testing for HCV has proved to be a feasible and effective strategy to identify undiagnosed HCV infection in the general population. All HCV-infected individuals belonged to hard-to-reach populations. Test uptake was 28%, which is high for an online project that includes blood testing. Because Internet-mediated testing is low-cost, this strategy holds promise for future screening.
KW - Adult
KW - Feasibility Studies
KW - Female
KW - Hematologic Tests/methods
KW - Hepacivirus/isolation & purification
KW - Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood
KW - Hepatitis C/diagnosis
KW - Humans
KW - Internet
KW - Male
KW - Mass Media
KW - Mass Screening/methods
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Netherlands
KW - Risk Assessment/methods
KW - Risk Factors
KW - Surveys and Questionnaires
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2010.11.019
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2010.11.019
M3 - Article
C2 - 21335268
SN - 0749-3797
VL - 40
SP - 345
EP - 352
JO - American journal of preventive medicine
JF - American journal of preventive medicine
IS - 3
ER -