Q: What barriers delay treatment in patients with hepatitis C? Evidence-based answer: Multiple patient-specific and provider-perceived factors delay initiation of treatment in patients with hepatitis C. Patient-specific barriers to initiation of treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) include age, race, gender, economic status, insurance status, and comorbidities such as HIV coinfection, psychiatric illness, and other psychosocial factors. Provider-perceived patient factors include substance abuse history, older age, psychiatric illness, medical comorbidities, treatment adverse effect risks, and factors that might limit adherence (eg, comprehension level). Study limitations included problems with generalizability of the populations studied and variability in reporting or interpreting data associated with substance or alcohol use disorders (strength of recommendation: B, based on 2 prospective and 5 retrospective cohort studies).Kimberly Crosby, PharmD; Simone Bigelow, DO; Viviane Sachs, MD; Jennifer Weakley, MD; Helga Skaftason, MD, MPH University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Tulsa Toni Hoberecht, MA, MLIS, AHIP University of Oklahoma-- Tulsa, Schusterman LibraryIncludes bibliographical reference
