 Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, 2003 |
| ASSEMBLY EDITION • NEW ORLEANS |
Get the latest updates on hepatitis C through two informational items.
Pick up "Hepatitis C: Treatment and Monitoring," an additional element of the 2003 Annual Clinical Focus on prevention. You'll find the packet at the Research and ACF exhibits in the AAFP Marketplace (Booth 3120) in the Morial Convention Center Exposition Hall.
The packet includes a summary of the most recent NIH consensus statement on management of hepatitis C, a fact sheet on preventing transmission, patient education materials and a personal treatment contract for your patients.
The NIH update reviews treatment recommendations and goals, how to manage the side effects of treatment, and special treatment considerations for patients who are also HIV-positive or who have liver disease.
The easy-to-understand patient handout describes the illness, treatments and how to cope with the infection.
Preliminary survey results related to hepatitis C are also available in a one-page summary at the Research exhibit in the AAFP Marketplace. In an effort to improve quality outcomes in the care of patients with hepatitis C, staff from the AAFP National Network for Family Practice and Primary Care Research conducted the Hepatitis C Survey this summer. The random sampling included 1,189 AAFP active members and 242 physicians from the network.
Physicians in the study were questioned about the number of their patients with hepatitis C, the physicians' screening methods, their comfort level for treating the disease and their referral practices.
John Hickner, M.D., M.S., the network's director, served as principal investigator for the study.
FP Report is published by the
AAFP News Department.
Copyright © 2003
by American Academy of Family Physicians.