TY - JOUR
T1 - Barriers and enablers to hepatitis C treatment among clients of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in South East Queensland, Australia
T2 - A qualitative enquiry
AU - Puljević, Cheneal
AU - Massi, Luciana
AU - Brown, Renee
AU - Mills, Richard
AU - Turner, Lyle
AU - Smirnov, Andrew
AU - Selvey, Linda A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by the University of Queensland’s Faculty of Medicine.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 CSIRO. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/6
Y1 - 2022/6
N2 - Background: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians have disproportionately high rates of hepatitis C infection. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services play an important role in promoting hepatitis C treatment, but uptake is variable. This study explores the service-level barriers and enablers to hepatitis C screening and treatment among clients of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in South East Queensland. Methods: This qualitative study involved yarns with 16 clients and 40 healthcare providers. Thematic analysis was used to identify common barriers and enablers to hepatitis C screening and treatment. Results: Common barriers included healthcare providers' knowledge deficits and inaccurate perceptions of clients' ability to complete treatment, whereas clients described stigma that resulted in distrust of health care, and experiences of poor relationships and connections with healthcare providers. Enablers included Aboriginal governance of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and the ease of direct-acting antiviral treatment. Conclusions: This study's findings point to the need for healthcare worker training focussing on client autonomy, reduced hepatitis C-related stigma, and consideration of clinicians' roles in increasing service engagement. Addressing the barriers to hepatitis C treatment through client-focussed service improvement may promote increased hepatitis C screening and treatment among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
AB - Background: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians have disproportionately high rates of hepatitis C infection. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services play an important role in promoting hepatitis C treatment, but uptake is variable. This study explores the service-level barriers and enablers to hepatitis C screening and treatment among clients of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in South East Queensland. Methods: This qualitative study involved yarns with 16 clients and 40 healthcare providers. Thematic analysis was used to identify common barriers and enablers to hepatitis C screening and treatment. Results: Common barriers included healthcare providers' knowledge deficits and inaccurate perceptions of clients' ability to complete treatment, whereas clients described stigma that resulted in distrust of health care, and experiences of poor relationships and connections with healthcare providers. Enablers included Aboriginal governance of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and the ease of direct-acting antiviral treatment. Conclusions: This study's findings point to the need for healthcare worker training focussing on client autonomy, reduced hepatitis C-related stigma, and consideration of clinicians' roles in increasing service engagement. Addressing the barriers to hepatitis C treatment through client-focussed service improvement may promote increased hepatitis C screening and treatment among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
KW - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
KW - Community Health Services
KW - delivery of health care
KW - health personnel
KW - hepatitis C
KW - Indigenous Health Services
KW - qualitative research
KW - Queensland
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85126014858&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1071/PY21055
DO - 10.1071/PY21055
M3 - Article
C2 - 35135655
AN - SCOPUS:85126014858
SN - 1448-7527
VL - 28
SP - 239
EP - 246
JO - Australian Journal of Primary Health
JF - Australian Journal of Primary Health
IS - 3
ER -
