This project seeks to determine whether the interventions (PS, vouchers) influence individual Attendance at the first treatment appointment. In addition, we are curious about what additional factors might be influencing individuals to adhere to their first appointment. Do these individuals find the interventions useful? What other barriers exist?
This study will help us to understand the extent to which interventions are adopted and what barriers to adoption might exist. We plan to conduct semi-structured key informant interviews with 10 patients and 10 care providers within Carilion Clinic and other HCV infection treatment programs. We will discuss barriers and facilitators (or perceived barriers and facilitators for care providers) to attendance at the first treatment appointment.
Two types of intervention will be tested. The first is the provision of a Peer Specialist (PS), and the second is the use of vouchers (food, transportation, phone). Our hypothesis is that this intervention will lead to a greater likelihood of the individual attending their first treatment appointment. Individuals that have a diagnosis of active HCV infection and that are admitted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital will be recruited for this research. Patients will be contacted by the new Hepatitis C coordinator, explanation of treatments available for Hepatitis C will be discussed with patient and an appointment will be scheduled for those that express an interest in treatment. The intervention will be interaction with a PS and specific vouchers based on the specialist’s assessment of their specific needs at the time of their initial diagnosis.