Client and stakeholder perceptions of a novel, nurse practitioner-led alcohol and other drug ambulatory withdrawal service.

Introduction: Despite recommendations for ambulatory withdrawal programs appearing in many contemporary alcohol and other drug treatment guidelines, to date there have been few studies exploring such programs from client and service stakeholder perspectives. The aim of this study was to explore both individual and service stakeholder perceptions of a nurse practitioner-led ambulatory withdrawal service on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Methods: Data were obtained from three groups: clinicians with knowledge of the service (n = 6); relatives of clients who had used the service (n = 2); and clients who had used the service (n = 10) using a Qualitative Descriptive design.

Hepatitis C virus point-of-care RNA testing: Experience from screening an entire high-security Australian prison population over 3 days.

Objective: Point-of-care testing for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in high-risk populations is key to diagnosing and eliminating HCV. We aimed to test all occupants for HCV in an entire prison.

Methods: All consenting participants at the Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre were tested for HCV over 3 days using fingerstick samples.

Global Real-World Evidence of Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir as a Highly Effective Treatment and Elimination Tool in People with Hepatitis C Infection Experiencing Mental Health Disorders.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is prevalent in people with mental health disorders, a priority population to diagnose and cure in order to achieve HCV elimination. This integrated analysis pooled data from 20 cohorts in seven countries to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of the pangenotypic direct-acting antiviral (DAA) sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) in people with mental health disorders. HCV-infected patients diagnosed with mental health disorders who were treated with SOF/VEL for 12 weeks without ribavirin as part of routine clinical practice were included.

Nurse practitioner interventions for smokers with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Smoking is a grossly overlooked risk factor for people with chronic hepatitis C with regard to disease progression. It is unclear whether current smoking cessation interventions are effective for this population.

Purpose: The purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of a telephone counseling and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) intervention for smokers with chronic hepatitis C to quit or reduce rates of smoking.

Specialist hepatology nurses leading the way.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is transmitted when infected blood from one person gets directly into the bloodstream of another. The most common way that HCV is transmitted in Australia is through the sharing of injecting drug use equipment. It is extremely likely that all nurses will meet a person with chronic HCV at some stage of their career.