Hepatitis C Screening in the Primary Care Setting

Prospective Cohort Study: Hepatitis C Screening in the Primary Care Setting

The purpose of this study is to determine whether patient education improves Hepatitis C screening in the primary care setting.

Hepatitis C is a chronic, asymptomatic infection that progresses to liver cirrhosis and cancer in the later stages if left untreated. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a one-time screening for high risk birth cohort between the years 1945-1965. Prior studies have evaluated methods to improve screening for hepatitis c with focus on increasing awareness in health professionals. Targets included nursing staff and electronic medical records. This study targets providing patients with education resources to see if screening rates improve.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients born between the years 1945 and 1965.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who had already received a prior screening test for Hepatitis C before the office visit.