The HepCare Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
HepCare: The effectiveness of community based interventions with peer support to improve case detection, carry out pre-treatment assessments and assist underserved populations through HCV treatment
IRAS ID
213566
Contact name
Julian Surey
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2017/03/152 , UCL Data Protection Registration
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
Hepatitis C infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease and death with approximately 3% of the world’s population is infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV).
New drug therapies called new direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have been developed and have proven to be well tolerated with minimal side effects. The current costs of these agents are extremely high, however, they provide an opportunity to cure most patients of HCV if they can access and adhere to treatment. The bigger challenge is to engage and cure underserved groups who are not accessing medical care, or who have other complex problems, including homelessness, incarceration, and substance misuse problems.
Strategies to improve HCV case detection and case management have much to learn from other infectious diseases. Tuberculosis (TB) disproportionately affects in large part the same group of individuals and community models of care have been used with great success. Strategies such as active case finding, community based screening and treatment, directly observed therapy (DOT) and peer support have all shown high rates of case detection and treatment completion.
This study aims to assess the effectiveness of community care with peer support to improve case detection, carry out pre-treatment assessments and assist underserved groups through HCV treatment.REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0417
Date of REC Opinion
3 Jul 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion