Identifying the most effective General Practice based tools for identifying those at risk of blood-borne viruses

Several computer-based algorithms are used to support GPs when identifying people at increased blood-borne viruses (BBV) risk. We scoped the available primary care tools for case identification for BBV and will compare their effectiveness/acceptability in a sample of primary care practices from urban and rural settings, with the aim of identifying an optimal set of criteria to aid diagnosis and recommendations for their use. We identified variation in effectiveness of the algorithms and investigate barriers to referral and treatment, and generate recommendations to improve acceptability, delivery of care and referral into treatment.

Findings will contribute to the UK’s HCV elimination efforts, will identify models of best practice and strategies to change the behaviours of service users and of less effective Operational Delivery Networks (ODNs) and GPs to improve HCV diagnosis and linkage to care.