Development of a Community-based HCV Treatment Completion Intervention Among HCV Positive Homeless Adults

Summary

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) will test the efficacy of a Community Health Worker/Registered Nurse (CHW-RN) HCV intervention for homeless individuals, many who are also drug users. The intervention will be designed during Phase I of the proposal using an iterative process between a Community Advisory Board (CAB) and focus groups. The CHW/RN intervention will occur over a 2 or 3 month (8-12 weeks) period depending on the Direct-Acting Antiviral (DAA) prescribed. Homeless adults assigned to the CHW/RN HCV treatment group will receive culturally-sensitive education, case management, and daily DOT delivery of DAA by an RN-guided CHW. The CHW will run a brief (20 min) weekly 1:1 education and 20 min case management session over the 8 or 12 weeks and will deliver all components of the program (which will be developed and refined during Phase I). The CHW-RN HCV intervention will be compared to a clinic-based standard of care group (cbSOC). Primary outcomes are the completion of the Direct-Acting Agent (DAA) treatment (month 2 or 3) and SVR12 Cure (month 5 or 6). Secondary outcomes are improved mental health status, decrease in substance use, and improved access to health care, and shelter stability at month 5 or 6.

Conditions

• Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Community health worker (CHW)/ registered nurse (RN) [CHW/RN]

A team of 2-3 CHWs and a research RN will deliver all components of the program including daily DOT delivery of Direct Acting Antiviral (DAA) and assess HCV side effects all under the guidance of their RN. Recruitment will be continuous: each CHW may be assigned up to 7-8 participants every 2-3 months until the target sample size (n=54 for the intervention group) is achieved. After the first dose of the DAA, the CHW will run a brief weekly 1:1 education and case management session over the 8 or 12 weeks (total 20 minutes). The CHW/RN team will assist the participant in picking up the monthly medication and storing the medication in a secure, locked cabinet at the research office. The CHW will rigorously track participants who have missed a dose, and will also be involved in facilitating medical, mental health, substance use, social service, legal appointments for participants, housing referrals, and accompany the participants to the appointments.

BEHAVIORAL

Clinic-based Standard of Care (cbSOC) Program (control group)

This program will be delivered by a clinic-based MD or clinic-based NP at the clinic site. Evaluation Staff (ES) will be hired and trained to do the interviewing/survey administration and follow-ups at the clinic-based site. The clinic NP will conduct, per usual care at the study clinics, the education and monitoring of these participants who will interact with the clinic-based-MD and/or NP monthly over the 8 or 12-week program. Usual care will include: 1) HCV pre-treatment education; 2) two month supply of DAA; 3) monitoring adverse events; and 4) responding to questions on HCV. Referral to drug/alcohol and housing programs will be provided over the standard of care. The cbSOC participants will not receive the community delivery of the DAA, or case management, or accompaniment to needed services. The cbSOC Program will receive the medication on a monthly basis from the clinic MD or NP.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of California, Los Angeles

  collaborator OTHER

• National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

  collaborator NIH

• University of California, Irvine

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• ADELINE M NYAMATHI, PhD · University of California, Irvine

• Lillian Gelberg, MD · University of California, Los Angeles

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-10-05

Primary Completion

2022-07-20

Completion

2022-07-20

Countries

• United States

Study Locations