DOI

10.21007/con.dnp.2022.0040

Faculty Advisor

Sharon Little, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

Spring 5-2-2022

Abstract

Purpose/Background Chronic hepatitis C is currently the most common cause of liver disease in the United States and is associated with various complications that increase mortality and morbidity, yet many people go unidentified and thus untreated. The CDC created guidelines in 2012 for hepatitis C screening and testing among the baby boomer population due to their high rates of HCV infection and HCV-related mortality. Our project aimed to assess the adherence of hepatitis C screening, based on these CDC guidelines, of individuals within the baby boomer population (1945-1965) in the primary care setting through retrospective chart review.

Methods A 6-month retrospective chart review was performed identifying any patients presenting to the primary care clinic who were born between the years 1945-1965. Charts were reviewed for whether or not hepatitis C screening tests were ordered on these patients.

Results Thirty-one patients were identified based on our criteria and the average age of the individuals was 65.87 years old. Of these thirty-one patients, twenty-three (74%) were not screened for HCV and eight (26%) were screened for HCV.

Implications for Nursing Practice The results provided in this retrospective chart review indicate that a substantial number of patients in the baby boomer population were not screened for HCV. Through adherence to recommended guidelines, an initial HCV screen for every patient can significantly improve the identification and treatment of Hepatitis C in infected individuals.

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