Peer-assisted telemedicine for hepatitis C in people who use drugs: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination requires treating people who use drugs (PWUD), yet fewer than 10% of PWUD in the United States access HCV treatment and access is especially limited in rural communities.

Methods: We randomized PWUD with HCV viremia and past 90-day injection drug or non-prescribed opioid use in seven rural Oregon counties to peer-assisted telemedicine HCV treatment (TeleHCV) versus peer-assisted referral to local providers (enhanced usual care; EUC). Peers supported screening and pre-treatment laboratory evaluation for all participants and facilitated telemedicine visits, medication delivery, and adherence for TeleHCV participants.

Clinical Validation of a Prenatal Cell-Free DNA Screening Test for Fetal RHD in a Large U.S. Cohort.

Objective: To present a large U.S. clinical validation of a next-generation sequencing-based, noninvasive prenatal cell-free DNA test for fetal RHD .

Peer-Assisted Telemedicine for Hepatitis C (PATHS): Process evaluation results from a State Opioid Response-funded program.

Introduction: The opioid crisis and the hepatitis C virus epidemic perpetuate and potentiate each other in a syndemic with escalating morbidity. Policy-driven funding can help resolve the syndemic through collaborative solutions that rapidly translate evidence-based interventions into real-world applications.

Methods: We report development and programmatic evaluation of Peer-Assisted Telemedicine for Hepatitis C (PATHS), which utilizes State Opioid Response (SOR) funding to scale-up a positive randomized trial of peer-assisted telemedicine HCV treatment.

Slicing through silos: Development and evaluation of a hospital-based telehealth hepatitis C virus treatment program.

Background: There exist many barriers to hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment for those with substance use disorder (SUD) or who lack access to routine medical care. A hospital-based telehealth program was developed to provide treatment opportunities for hospitalized patients living with HCV.

Methods: This single site prospective cohort study conducted from July 2022 to March 2023 aimed to measure linkage to care with an HCV clinician and initiation of HCV treatment in hospitalized patients.

Human immunodeficiency virus pre-exposure prophylaxis awareness among people who inject drugs in Portland, Oregon.

Background: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among people who inject drugs (PWID) has demonstrated efficacy yet awareness of PrEP among PWID is low.

Methods: 2018 National Behavioral Health Survey data from the Portland, Oregon metropolitan statistical area was analyzed with chi-squared tests and generalized linear models to determine correlates of PrEP awareness among PWID.

Results: 80% of the sample had at least one indication for PrEP and 15% of the sample was aware of PrEP.