Specialty care and education associated with greater disease-specific knowledge but not satisfaction with care for chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Little is known about differences among hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients managed by generalists vs. specialists with respect to patient-centred outcomes, such as disease-specific knowledge, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and satisfaction with care.

Aim: To examine selected patient-centred outcomes of HCV-related care provided in primary care, specialty care or both.

Methods: A total of 629 chronic HCV patients completed a survey including an HCV knowledge assessment and validated instruments for satisfaction and HRQoL. Multivariable linear regression was used to compare outcomes between groups.

Results: Adjusted total HCV knowledge score was lower among patients who did not attend specialty care (P < 0.01). Primary care and specialty patients did not differ in adjusted general HRQoL or satisfaction. Sixty percent of specialty patients underwent formal HCV education, which was associated with 5% higher knowledge score (P = 0.01). General HRQoL and patient satisfaction did not differ between primary care and specialty groups. Disease-specific knowledge and care satisfaction were independent of mental illness, substance abuse, socio-economic variables, history of antiviral treatment, formal HCV education and duration of time between last visit and survey completion.

Conclusions: Primary care patients with chronic HCV have lower adjusted disease-specific knowledge than specialty patients, but no difference in general HRQoL or patient satisfaction.