ResearchProjects

There is an urgent need for interventions to increase hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment uptake among HIV/HCV-co-infected persons. End-stage liver disease is a leading cause of death among HIV-positive persons, largely due to untreated chronic HCV infection, and rates of HCV treatment uptake remain low despite significant advances in the effectiveness of HCV treatment. This study developed an intervention addressing patient-level barriers (Information, Motivation, and Behavioral Skills) to HCV treatment uptake in HIV-co-infected patients and tested its feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy. The study is innovative in that it developed the first web-based intervention for health care providers to use to increase HCV treatment initiation in HIV/HCV-co-infected persons. The study can have a major public health impact by providing needed structured resources for health care providers to increase rates of HCV treatment initiation in HIV/HCV-co- infected persons, thereby reducing mortality due to end-stage liver disease.