Title Reaching out to the UNdiagnosed people infected with blood-borne viral infections (RUNtoBBV) Objectives 1. To study the efficacy of an outreach methodology to increase the uptake for screening, linkage to care and treatment in (active or former) people who use drugs (PWUD) Trial design Prospective multicenter interventional cohort design Number of subjects 336 inclusions (with prevalence of HCV Ab: 30%) * 168 Antwerp * 168 Limburg Selection criteria Inclusion criteria: * 18 years of age * History of/ or active drug use * Written informed consent obtained Exclusion criteria * Currently enrolled in centralized OST program of Free Clinic or CAD Limburg Endpoints The following endpoints will be compared between the centers in Limburg and Antwerp: (Main outcome in bold) Main objectives: * Prevalence of blood-borne viral infections in Belgian (former or active) PWUD: * HCV infection (number of HCV Ab+ / number of screened PWUD) * HBV infection (number of HBsAg+/number of screened PWUD) * HIV infection (number of HIV Ab+/number of screened PWUD) * Analysis of linkage to care to hepatologist/ infectiologist (number of patients who adhered to their consultation/number of referred patients) Secondary objectives: * Analysis of risk behavior/sociodemographics linked to presence of BBV infections * Analysis of uptake of anti(retro)viral treatment (number of patients started on treatment/number of patients needing treatment) * Analysis of treatment adherence (adherence to treatment consultations/total planned consultations) * Analysis of treatment outcome (total number of cured or virally suppressed patients/total number of treated patients)
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
425
Screening by fingerprick for HCV Ab, HBsAg and HIV Ab and a questionnaire will be performed at sites outside of the regular treatment facilities.
Free Clinic Antwerpen
Antwerp, Belgium
Free Clinic Antwerp
Antwerp, Belgium
ZNA Antwerp
Antwerp, Belgium
Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg
Genk, Belgium
CAD Limburg
Hasselt, Belgium
Jessa Ziekenhuis
Hasselt, Belgium
Ziekenhuis Maas en Kempen
Maaseik, Belgium
Mariaziekenhuis Noord-limburg
Overpelt, Belgium
AZ Sint-Trudo
Sint-Truiden, Belgium
AZ Vesalius
Tongeren, Belgium
HCV Ab+ (Hepatitis C Virus antibody)
test using whole capillary blood (finger prick testing)
Time frame: day 1
HBsAg+ (Hepatitis B surface Antigen)
test using whole capillary blood (finger prick testing)
Time frame: day 1
HIV Ab+ (human immunodeficiency virus) antibody
test using whole capillary blood (finger prick testing)
Time frame: day 1
4. Questionnaire to Identify risk factors associated with the aforementioned blood borne viral infections (hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV)
i. Combine results from positive finger prick test with questionnaire regarding sociodemographic factors, migration, risk factors for blood born viruses (sexual contacts, incarceration, drug use). The questionaire does not include a score on scale.
Time frame: day 1
Analysis of uptake of anti(retro)viral treatment
percentage of HCV positive clients who started treatment in relation of total of HCV positive clients needing treatment
Time frame: Day 1
Analysis of treatment adherence
percentage of patients reaching end-of treatment response, who present at the consultation, in relation to total patients in treatment
Time frame: up to one year
Analysis of treatment outcome
total number of cured or virally suppressed patients/total number of treated patients
Time frame: month 18
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