Telemedicine Chronic Viral Hepatitis C Treatment during the Lockdown Period in Romania: A Pilot Study

Irina Paula Doica, Dan Nicolae Florescu, Carmen Nicoleta Oancea, Adina Turcu-Stiolica, Mihaela-Simona Subtirelu, Gindrovel Dumitra, Ion Rogoveanu, Dan Ionut Gheonea and Bogdan Silviu Ungureanu
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Irina Paula Doica: Gastroenterology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Dan Nicolae Florescu: Gastroenterology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Carmen Nicoleta Oancea: Pharmacy I Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Adina Turcu-Stiolica: Pharmacoeconomics Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Mihaela-Simona Subtirelu: Pharmacoeconomics Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Gindrovel Dumitra: Family Medicine Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Ion Rogoveanu: Gastroenterology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Dan Ionut Gheonea: Gastroenterology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Bogdan Silviu Ungureanu: Gastroenterology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-9

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic is currently delaying the process of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) eradication, since most of the chronic diseases are neglected. Thus, there is a need for alternative programs for HCV therapy implementation and disease monitoring. Our aim was to provide a multidisciplinary approach, so that HCV-infected patients from distant locations may benefit from HCV antivirals during the COVID-19 outbreak and within the lockdown period in Romania. Previously diagnosed HCV patients willing to participate in this telemedicine pilot study were included. Patient characteristics and medical adherence were assessed and compared to the year preceding the pandemic. We proposed a multidisciplinary approach by using a telemedicine program for HCV therapy monitoring. Patients also received a satisfaction questionnaire after delivering the sustained virologic response (SVR) result. A total of 41 patients agreed to participate in this study. The medication adherence was 100% for patients included in the telemedicine group, with a statistically significant difference from the medication adherence of the patients treated in 2019. The satisfaction item score was 4.92 out of 5 and our results (r = ?0.94, p < 0.0001) suggested that older patients embraced the telemedicine program less, but with the same success in terms of SVR (100%) and medication adherence (100%). Our pilot study offers the first example of a telemedicine program in Romania for HCV therapeutic management. During the lockdown period, telemedicine has served as a reliable tool and novel alternative for conventional monitoring of patients treated with direct antiviral agents and should be further considered even following the pandemic.

Keywords: telemedicine; lockdown; COVID-19; chronic hepatitis C; direct antiviral agents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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