TY  - JOUR
T1  - Impact of Intervention on Treatment Outcomes and Referral Rates in Hepatitis C Patients
A1  - Marta Torrens
A1  - Darcy Bowman
A1  - Eberhard Schatz
JF  - Bulletin of Pioneering Researches of Medical and Clinical Science
JO  - Bull Pioneer Res Med Clin Sci
SN  - 3006-2659
Y1  - 2025
VL  - 4
IS  - 2
DO  - 10.51847/gZuPWuJMYu
SP  - 1
EP  - 6
N2  - This study aimed to evaluate the impact of implementing critical value management combined with push short messaging service (SMS) on enhancing the referral rates of patients testing positive for hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV). Patients with positive anti-HCV results between January 1, 2015, and October 31, 2021, did not receive any specific intervention. From November 1, 2021, to July 31, 2022, patients who tested positive were notified through critical value management and push SMS. For hospitalized patients, a qualified physician coordinated with an infectious disease specialist for consultation, whereas outpatients were directed to visit the liver disease clinic. Statistical analyses, including the chi-square correlation test, one-sided two-proportion test, and linear regression, were conducted to assess the association between the intervention and referral outcomes. Among 638,308 individuals tested for anti-HCV, 5,983 were positive. Of the referred patients, 51.8% were aged 18–59 years, while 10.8% were ≥ 75 years old. The chi-square correlation test indicated a significant association between the intervention and referral rate (P = .0000, P < .05). A one-sided two-proportion test comparing pre (p₁) and post-intervention (p₂) referral rates yielded significant results using normal approximation and Fisher’s exact test (P = 0.000, P < .05), supporting the hypothesis that p₁ − p₂ < 0. Linear regression analysis produced the equation: referral = 0.1396 × intervention + 0.3743 (P = 8.79e−09, P 
UR  - https://bprmcs.com/article/impact-of-intervention-on-treatment-outcomes-and-referral-rates-in-hepatitis-c-patients-m0b7ad0inuzeoml
ER  -