Recommendations for Implementing Hepatitis C Virus Care in Homeless Shelters: The Stakeholder Perspective.

Compared with the general population, homeless individuals are at higher risk of hepatitis C infection (HCV) and may face unique barriers in receipt of HCV care. This study sought the perspectives of key stakeholders toward establishing a universal HCV screening, testing, and treatment protocol for individuals accessing homeless shelters. Four focus groups were conducted with homeless shelter staff, practice providers, and social service outreach workers (n = 27) in San Francisco, California, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Focus groups evaluated key societal, system, and individual-level facilitators and barriers to HCV testing and management. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed thematically. The societal-level barriers identified were lack of insurance, high-out-of-pocket expenses, restriction of access to HCV treatment due to active drug and/or alcohol use, and excessive paperwork required for HCV treatment authorization from payers. System-level barriers included workforce constraints and limited health care infrastructure, HCV stigma, low knowledge of HCV treatment, and existing shelter policies. At the individual level, client barriers included competing priorities, behavioral health concerns, and health attitudes. Facilitators at the system level for HCV care service integration in the shelter setting included high acceptability and buy in, and linkage with social service providers. Conclusion: Despite societal, system, and individual-level barriers identified with respect to the scale-up of HCV services in homeless shelters, there was broad support from key stakeholders for increasing capacity for the provision of HCV services in shelter settings. Recommendations for the scale-up of HCV services in homeless shelter settings are discussed

Erratum to: Adherence to Hepatitis C Therapy in a Shelter-Based Education and Treatment Model Among Persons Experiencing Homelessness.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofab488.]

Patient‐reported experiences with direct acting antiviral therapy in an integrated model of hepatitis C care in homeless shelters

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Patient reported experience (PRE) is critical for engagement in hepatitis C (HCV) therapy in hard to reach populations. However, there is no data on patient reported experience with DAA therapy among homeless patients accessing shelters. We assessed PRE with DAA treatment following implementation of HCV therapy within homeless shelters in two diverse regions in the United States. METHODS: In a study of integrated HCV testing and treatment in four homeless shelters in San Francisco (SF) and Minnesota (MN), 66 patients received DAA therapy from 11/2018–4/2020. PREs were assessed at the end of therapy with constructs: satisfaction with communication with their HCV treatment provider, receipt of social support during therapy, perceived stigma associated with HCV infection, and their overall satisfaction with DAA therapy. Descriptive statistics and factors associated with satisfaction with HCV therapy were assessed. RESULTS: At end of therapy, 41 patients completed the questionnaire (response rate was 62%). Median age was 56 years, 74.4% were men, 44% White (45% Black, 6% Latino), 35% had more than a high school diploma, 65% had a history of IV drug use, 56% had received SUD treatment, and 12% were co-infected with HIV. During DAA treatment, the majority of patients lived in shelters, 37% used illicit drugs, 24% consumed alcohol, and 14% received psychiatric treatment. Patient reported experience with DAA therapy were as follows: 100% agreed or strongly agreed that HCV providers seemed non-judgmental, 98% reported that their provider seemed to care about them, 98% reported that people close to them had been supportive of their care, and 98% were satisfied with their HCV treatment. There were no patient level or clinical predictors associated with PREs of stigma, perceived lack of social support or satisfaction with DAA treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly all (>95%) homeless patients receiving integrated HCV testing and therapy within homeless shelters felt supported and reported favorable views toward their providers and a high level of satisfaction with DAA treatment. As patient reported experience is key for engagement in HCV therapy, our onsite treatment intervention within shelters can serve as a model of HCV care to enhance treatment uptake in patients experiencing homelessness

Formal Hepatitis C education increases willingness to receive therapy in an onsite shelter-based HCV model of care in persons experiencing homelessness

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of formal hepatitis C virus (HCV) education on engagement in therapy in persons experiencing homelessness in an on-site shelter-based model of care. As policies to eliminate Medicaid access restrictions to HCV treatment are expanded, patient education is paramount to achieving HCV elimination targets in difficult-to-engage populations including persons experiencing homelessness.MethodsThis prospective study was conducted at 4 shelters in San Francisco and Minneapolis from August 2018 to January 2021. Of the 162 HCV Ab-positive participants, 150 participated in a 30-minute HCV education session. Posteducation changes in knowledge, beliefs, barriers to care, and willingness to accept therapy scores were assessed.ResultsFollowing education, knowledge scores (mean change, 4.4 ± 4.4; P < .001) and willingness to accept therapy (70% to 86%; P = .0002) increased. Perceived barriers to HCV care decreased (mean change, -0.8 ± 5.2; P = .001). Higher baseline knowledge was associated with lesser gain in knowledge following education (coef., -0.7; P < .001). Posteducation knowledge (odds ratio, 1.2; P = .008) was associated with willingness to accept therapy.ConclusionsAn HCV educational intervention successfully increased willingness to engage in HCV therapy in persons experiencing homelessness in an on-site shelter-based HCV model of care

Shelter‐Based Integrated Model Is Effective in Scaling Up Hepatitis C Testing and Treatment in Persons Experiencing Homelessness

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence is high among people experiencing homelessness, but barriers to scaling up HCV testing and treatment persist. We aimed to implement onsite HCV testing and education and evaluate the effectiveness of low-barrier linkage to HCV therapy among individuals accessing homeless shelters. HCV rapid testing was performed at four large shelters in San Francisco (SF) and Minneapolis (MN). Sociodemographic status, HCV risk, barriers to testing, and interest in therapy were captured. Participants received information about HCV. Those testing positive underwent formal HCV education and onsite therapy. Multivariable modeling assessed predictors of receipt of HCV therapy and sustained virologic response (SVR). A total of 766 clients were tested. Median age was 53.7 years, 68.2% were male participants, 46.3% were Black, 27.5% were White, 13.2% were Hispanic, and 57.7% had high school education or less; 162 (21.1%) were HCV antibody positive, 107 (66.0%) had detectable HCV RNA (82.1% with active drug use, 53.8% history of psychiatric illness), 66 (61.7%) received HCV therapy, and 81.8% achieved SVR. On multivariate analysis, shelter location (MN vs. SF, odds ratio [OR], 0.3; P = 0.01) and having a health care provider (OR, 4.1; P = 0.02) were associated with receipt of therapy. On intention to treat analysis, the only predictor of SVR when adjusted for age, sex, and race was HCV medication adherence (OR, 14.5; P = 0.01). Conclusion: Leveraging existing homeless shelter infrastructure was successful in enhancing HCV testing and treatment uptake. Despite high rates of active substance use, psychiatric illness, and suboptimal adherence, over 80% achieved HCV cure. This highlights the critical importance of integrated models in HCV elimination efforts in people experiencing homelessness that can be applied to other shelter settings