Identifying the structural enablers to the clinical management of people with hepatitis B in general practice: a qualitative investigation

General Practice and other primary health care services are recognised as essential in reducing hepatitis B-related mortality in Australia. The Third National Hepatitis B Strategy 2018-2022 identifies general practice as a “priority setting” for delivering education, prevention and care services, with key elements for the transition of hepatitis B management from specialist to primary care yet to be described.

Objectives

Several challenges to the general practice response to hepatitis B are described, including poor knowledge of hepatitis B, lack of awareness of clinical management processes, poor specialist referral processes and inadequate financial support for hepatitis B management.

In spite of these concerns and with the escalating mortality resulting from hepatitis B- related liver cancer, its management within primary care services is supported. This research investigates general practice responses to hepatitis B by aiming to identify systematic enablers to the clinical management of people with hepatitis B within these settings.

Timeline

June 2020 (completed).