Educational and health service needs of Australian general practitioners in managing hepatitis C.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
There has been interest in recent years in the role of primary care practitioners in managing hepatitis C, but there has been minimal research to identify educational and health service needs. A national survey of Australian general practitioners (GPs) was therefore conducted to assess their needs and identify areas for service development.

METHODS:
A self-administered questionnaire was developed that included questions to assess caseload, confidence in patient management, educational needs and approaches to management and prevention. Questionnaires were sent to a random sample of Australian GPs. Returned questionnaires were coded, frequencies tabulated and significant associations identified.

RESULTS:
A 70% response rate was achieved from 658 eligible GPs. A total of 76% of respondents had managed one patient in the previous year with hepatitis C. While 69% reported feeling more confident about their management of hepatitis C than 5 years previously, 55% identified a high level of need for hospital-based clinics. Financial benefits for case conferences and chronic case management were not considered useful by most GPs. Topics identified for further skills development included therapeutics and diagnostic testing. Only 39% were highly likely to discuss psychosocial issues as part of initial patient management and 37% reported finding it difficult to play a central role in the medical and psychosocial care of patients with hepatitis C.

CONCLUSION:
These results have significant implications for policy and service development, as well as identifying areas where GPs need support. The findings invite further discussion between health authorities about the source and magnitude of funding for hospital-based services and further consideration of how to provide services to address patients' psychosocial needs.

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Author information

Author/s: Gupta, Leena (L); Shah, Sangeeta (S); Ward, Jeanette E (JE);

Affiliation: Public Health Unit, Sydney South West Area Health Service, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia. guptal(-atsign-)email.cs.nsw.gov.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology (J Gastroenterol Hepatol), published in Australia. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Apr; vol 21 (issue 4) : pp 694-9

Dates: Created 2006/05/08; Completed 2006/10/12; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16677155, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Australia - epidemiology
Delivery of Health Care - statistics & numerical data
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Services - statistics & numerical data
Hepatitis C - epidemiology; therapy

Needs Assessment
Physician's Practice Patterns - statistics & numerical data
Physicians, Family - statistics & numerical data
Professional Competence - statistics & numerical data
Questionnaires

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