STOP HCC-HCV

Name: STOP HCC-HCV
Author: University of Texas Health San Antonio

University of Texas Health San Antonio

VALIDATED

Initial evidence from research studies

For:General Public & EnthusiastsPatients & Caregivers

Free

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App Summary

STOP HCC-HCV is an educational app for patients and at-risk populations that provides essential information about hepatitis C transmission, diagnosis, and treatment. The app's development is informed by associated research demonstrating that targeted education improves knowledge and attitudes about HCV screening among entire primary care teams. The authors conclude that such educational initiatives are essential for the successful implementation of screening and prevention programs.

App Screenshots

Detailed Description

Functionality & Mechanism

Developed by the STOP HCC-HCV Program, this tool delivers pedagogical content on hepatitis C (HCV). The interface guides the user through sequential modules covering HCV etiology, transmission, diagnosis, and treatment. To validate comprehension, the system integrates "teach-back" questions after key information is presented. All educational modules are designed for offline access after initial installation, facilitating use in diverse clinical and community settings without requiring a persistent internet connection.

Evidence & Research Context

The app is a component of the broader STOP HCC-HCV program, which implements HCV screening, linkage to care, and hepatocellular carcinoma prevention initiatives within Federally Qualified Health Centers.
Associated research from the program underscores the need for effective educational interventions to improve knowledge and attitudes regarding HCV among both providers and community members in high-risk populations.
The app's design leverages the "teach-back" method, an established health literacy technique intended to confirm patient understanding of complex medical information and improve retention.
The program's data infrastructure, described in a methodological paper, is designed for privacy-preserving analytics to support public health reporting and research in underserved communities.

Intended Use & Scope

This app is designed as an educational resource for patients, at-risk individuals, and the general public, and as a patient education aid for clinicians. Its primary utility is to provide foundational knowledge about HCV. It does not offer diagnostic services, personalized treatment recommendations, or medical advice. Users should consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis and care.

Studies & Publications

2 publications

Peer-reviewed research associated with this app.

Development/Design Paper

STOP-HCV-HCC Program: Privacy-Preserving Innovation for Remote Data Access Analytics at Federally Qualified Health Centers in South Texas

Craven et al. (2024) · Studies in Health Technology and Informatics

Describes the research-driven development of this app

STOP-HCV-HCC program to screen and treat hepatitis C, vaccinate for hepatitis B, and prevent hepatocellular carcinoma is implementing a cloud-based privacy-preserving platform to overcome electronic health record barriers to reporting, without data transfer, at four federally qualified health centers in South Texas, USA.

Effectiveness/Outcome Study

Educating Primary Care Providers and Associate Care Providers About Hepatitis C Screening of Baby Boomers: a Multi-practice Study

Flores et al. (2020) · Journal of Cancer Education

Both physicians and care team members improved their knowledge about hepatitis C screening after training.

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) increases the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite higher prevalence of HCV in persons born 1945–1965 (baby boomer), screening has not been widely adopted. Both primary care providers (PCPs) and associate care providers (ACPs) need to be educated about the rationale and methods to screen for HCV. In five Federally Qualified Health Centers serving low-income Hispanic communities, PCPs and ACPs attended a 50-min training lecture about HCV epidemiology, screening methods, and evaluation. Using a 12-item questionnaire, knowledge and attitudes were compared for PCPs and ACPs at baseline (pre-test) and following training (post-test). A higher proportion of PCPs correctly answered 3 of 6 knowledge questions on both pre-test and post-test but ACPs' showed more improvement in knowledge (all P < 0.05). ACPs had more favorable attitudes about linking patients to care on pre- and post-tests than PCPs, and ACPs' attitudes improved on all 6 items versus 4 for PCPs. Both PCPs and ACPs improved knowledge and attitudes after training about HCV screening but ACPs had more favorable attitudes than PCPs. Engaging the entire primary care practice team in learning about HCV screening promotes knowledge and attitudes necessary for successful implementation.

In the Media

Research shows new education program may increase hepatitis C screenings

UT Health San Antonio and UT Southwestern researchers developed STOP HCC-HCV to increase hepatitis C screenings among underserved populations, using a shortened 50-minute training program for healthcare providers. The study involved 287 participants across five Federally Qualified Health Centers in San Antonio and South Texas, with 36% being primary care physicians and 64% associate care providers. "Hispanic populations are in dire need of HCV screening to avert complications of advanced disease such as liver cancer and end-stage liver disease, both of which can be deadly," said principal investigator Dr. Bertha Flores.

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Liver cancer prevention project boosts hepatitis C screening and care in safety-net practices

UT Health San Antonio's Long School of Medicine developed STOP HCC-HCV to arrest the rise in Texas liver cancer by building primary care capacity to screen for hepatitis C virus infection and manage patients through teleconsultation. The multi-component strategy increased baby boomer screening rates for HCV infection from less than 1% to 48% across six safety-net practices serving low-income Hispanic communities. The program screened 13,334 of 27,700 baby boomers across the participating practices, with results published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

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