Hepatitis Services, BCCDC

Gail Butt, Associate Clinical Director

Liza McGuinnessResearch Manager

Development and Implementation of Health Literacy Resources to Improve Hepatitis C Care and Support

Gail Butt, Liza McGuinness, Hepatitis Services

Purpose:A national project to develop health literacy materials to assist people with hepatitis C to:

discuss their needs, navigate health and social

services improve their self-care

Methods: Participatory Action Research approach to incorporate the expertise of those infected with hepatitis C and their health and social care providers.

Participants act as:

Advisory committee members Content reviewers Event organizers Distributors of resources

Results:

1) Developed, evaluated and disseminated French & English self-learning booklets

2) Developed, evaluated and disseminated self-learning booklets with Aboriginal people

3) Developed a national partner network of people affected by hepatitis C and their service providers.

As of Feb 2011: 490 people had assisted 2455 handbooks distributed

42 launch events

4) Developed audio resources and other accessory learning materials for those with special learning needs

5) In development: Resources translated and adapted for use by Inuit audiences

Conclusions:Increased capacity to support people with hepatitis C

Increased engagement and education of those affected and their service providers

The materials are used by people with other chronic illnesses

Funded by Hepatitis C Prevention, Support and Research Program, Public Health Agency of Canada

This project succeeded because of the participation and dedication of many:

CAHN and Competency Committee Members, in particular:Cheryl Dale, Carol Dupasquier, JoAnn Ford, Geri Hirsch, Ciro Panessa, Kathy Poldre, Syliva Skrypnyk, Colina Yim, and Samantha EarlSpecial thanks to Paul Plaisir for the French translation assistance

ANDAboriginal Nurses Association of Canada All Nations Hope AIDS NetworkASK Wellness (BC)Aboriginal Healthy Living: BC Ministry of Health Services, AIDS Society of Kamloops Canadian Aboriginal AIDS NetworkHep C Council of BCHepatitis C Secretariat (ON)Interior Indian Friendship Centre Métis Nation BCRed Road HIV/AIDS StrategyThe Squamish NationSouth Riverdale Community Health Centre (ON)

Funded by the Hepatitis C Prevention, Support and Research Program, Public Health Agency of Canada

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

What’s Next?

• Issues with non-attendance, deferral or delay of hepatitis C care

• Is this a problem in your practice?– large, medium, low

Non-Attendance for Hepatitis Care Research Project

Background• Data from 4 BC hepatitis demo projects

– 20-28% of those referred annually didn’t attend

• No studies of reasons for non-attendance

Purpose: Understand the personal & health-system factors affecting attendance for hepatitis C services

develop engagement strategies/programs based on the recommendations of non-attendees and providers

Non-Attendance: Proposal

Year 1- obtain and analyze data: interviews, focus groups, administrative datasets

Year 2- develop and disseminate results/resources

Can you help with recruitment ?

gail.butt@bccdc.ca

Future : The effectiveness of Life Coaching for Hepatitis C

• Life coaching:– a collaborative process between a coach and a

client – to increase motivation to maximize personal

change and potential (Whitmore, 2007)

– focus is on client values and priorities – in the context of living with the illness

• Life coaches do not have to be health care professionals

Exploring Life Coaching for Hepatitis C

• Step 1: Knowledge synthesis grant regarding the outcomes of life coaching on illness management, adherence to treatment and health care utilization -

• Step 2: Intervention trial grant application

Thank you!