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Hepatitis CNCT04162938

Use of a Patient-Centered Electronic App to Increase ED Patient's Knowledge on HCV to Improve the HCV Care Continuum

A study testing Patient-Centered Electronic App in people with Hepatitis C, run by Johns Hopkins University at 1 site in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The investigators will conduct a randomized controlled clinical trial study in an urban emergency department in Baltimore to determine the impact of an educational app which is based on Leventhal's Common-Sense Model of Illness Representations framework, on HCV-infected ED patient's hepatitis C virus (HCV) health… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 100 years
Conditions the study is for
Hepatitis C
What is being tested?
Patient-Centered Electronic App
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
308 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
24 Mar 2022to Jul 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 100 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Johns Hopkins Hospital ED patient
  • 18 years or older
  • HCV positive without HCV RNA information

Who cannot join

  • Younger than 18 years of age
  • Unable to provide informed consent
  • Altered mental status
  • Incarcerated
  • Critically ill

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Deanna Myer contact

443-287-6985

dmyer1@jhmi.edu

United States1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21287

    Deanna Myer, 443-287-6985, dmyer1@jhmi.edu

    Tiana Jones, 410-735-6422, tpurrin1@jhmi.edu

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Use of a Patient-Centered Electronic App to Increase Emergency Department Patient's Knowledge on HCV Infection, Disease Progression, and Care to Improve the HCV Care Continuum

The investigators will conduct a randomized controlled clinical trial study in an urban emergency department in Baltimore to determine the impact of an educational app which is based on Leventhal's Common-Sense Model of Illness Representations framework, on HCV-infected ED patient's hepatitis C virus (HCV) health belief and knowledge as well as the downstream outcomes of the HCV Continuum of Care (linkage to care rate, initiation of HCV antiviral treatment, and sustained virologic response). First, the investigators will develop a blueprinted prototype personalized HCV educational app which will (1) provide individualized liver fibrosis staging information, (2) pre-test HCV knowledge, perception of barriers to HCV care, and motivation to receive HCV care survey, (3) provide personalized HCV knowledge, facilitators and supporting information for HCV care via video clips and information sheets based on the pre-test results, and (4) provide post-test knowledge, perception, and motivation to receive HCV care. Second, the investigators will conduct a series of focus group discussion sessions to fine-tune the HCV educational app. Third, the investigators will enroll ED patients who have anti-HCV (newly diagnosed or previously diagnosed) but without HCV RNA testing information for a pilot randomized controlled clinical trial of the personalized HCV educational app.

Read the detailed description

An estimated 40-85% of 2.4 million Americans infected with HCV remain unaware of the infection. Further even amongst those aware of the HCV status, the vast majority do not get linked to care or are offered the option for treatment. Busy emergency department (ED) settings, which provide care to 140 million individuals each year, have recently been demonstrated to be a key venue for large-scale HCV testing, with outcomes from several large cities showing rates of disease of upwards of 10%. Significant challenges remain however, as linkage to care (LTC) from EDs has proven particularly elusive. National ED HCV LTC rates typically range from 20-40%, which dramatically restricts the overall impact on patient outcomes. Varied and complex factors contribute to these challenges but include both individual patient level factors, as well as social and health care infrastructure barriers. One critical but potentially mutable factor associated with gaps in LTC, that has yet to be systematically evaluated for ED populations, is the role of patient's comprehension of the 'meaning' of patients' HCV diagnosis, which includes understanding the natural history of the disease, and the associated downstream health consequences of being infected. Placing HCV in the context of a patient based conceptual disease model provides a framework for studying knowledge gaps and misperceptions, which could be used to help improve patient engagement in care, and ultimately both clinical and public health outcomes. Leventhal's Common-Sense Model of Illness Representations provides a foundational framework for understanding an individual's belief and coping strategy to respond to his or her illness, with reliance on both concrete and abstract information (e.g. symptoms or acquired knowledge). For HCV, variables that may impact patient's engagement include a relative lack of urgency to receive care (due to the indolent nature of symptoms and often decades-long disease progression), a perception of ineffective treatment options (rooting from interferon therapy), and the perception of a relative low morbidity and mortality risk associated with HCV (versus e.g. HIV). Leveraging this Common-Sense Model theoretical framework, the investigators' research team proposes to design and evaluate the impact of a patient-centered HCV health belief conception framework for improving LTC interventions and the downstream HCV care continuum. Individualized risk information will be delivered in a patient-centric manner in the ED, gathering easily obtainable data that has proven to predict progression (i.e. Fibrosis-4 score). The investigators propose to first conduct a series of 3 focus group discussion sessions for participants to provide constructive comments and suggestions on the prototype of the personalized HCV educational app which has been blueprinted and is currently under development. This will be followed by development and pilot testing of a personalized patient-centered tablet-facilitated HCV educational program app, focusing on improving patient knowledge regarding HCV in real-time (including using and ED-based fibrosis staging service from precision medicine perspective). The patient informed staging service will include an estimated non-invasive Fibrosis-4 score; a serum fibrosis marker index (includes age, platelet count, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) values). The investigators hypothesize that providing individualized HCV disease progression staging information to ED patients, along with a structured educational LTC program to HCV-infected patients during patients' ED visit, will significantly change patient's health beliefs and perceptions of HCV, and motivate patients to achieve improved rates of LTC, retention in care, anti-viral treatment, and sustained virologic response along the HCV care cascade.

Conditions
Hepatitis C
Being tested
Patient-Centered Electronic App
Keywords
HCV Linkage to Care, HCV Education
Medical subject headings
Hepatitis C

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Patient-Centered Electronic AppOther

    The coordinator will enter lab information to generate the patient's Fibrosis-4 score for liver fibrosis staging. With the information of liver fibrosis staging and survey responses, the app will generate individualized reports of the participant's comprehensive HCV disease progression, knowledge, and level of interest in receiving HCV care. The app will then deliver a streamlined, tailored, brief education message and include information regarding services and assistance for receiving HCV care.

Study groups in NCT04162938
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Patient-Centered Electronic App GroupExperimentalPatients assigned to the intervention group will receive individualized reports regarding patients' HCV disease progress/liver fibrosis staging by a Fibrosis-4 score using the personalized HCV educational app. The individualized report will also include comprehensive knowledge to fill the gap on general HCV information, natural history of the disease, and care and treatment, if there is any, as well as level of interest in receiving HCV care based on patients' response to the short survey questionnaires on the tablet. Patients will also receive the investigators' HCV program pamphlet regarding HCV infection and disease progression, treatment, as well as information regarding clinics available for HCV care in Baltimore. Patients will receive standard of care, routine HCV LTC services from the investigators' ED HCV LTC program staff.
Receives: Other: Patient-Centered Electronic App
Reference GroupNo interventionPatients assigned to the reference group will receive the investigators' current 'static' standard of care HCV program pamphlet regarding HCV infection and disease progression, treatment, as well as information regarding clinics available for HCV care in Baltimore City. Patients will also receive standard of care, routine HCV LTC services from the investigators' ED HCV LTC program staff.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Linkage to care rate (days)

    Linkage to care rate is defined as the time (days) between patient enrollment and the patient's first HCV-related clinic visit.

    Measured: 28 months

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Change in HCV knowledge as assessed by True/False survey questions

    The survey uses True/False responses to twenty questions with scores ranging from 0 to 20. An increase in the patient's total number of correct answers indicates an increase in the patient's HCV knowledge.

    Measured: Immediately before and immediately after use of the education app, up to 1 hour

  2. Change in perceived barriers to HCV care as assessed by a Likert Scale

    The survey uses a Likert Scale with 27 items; each item scored from 1 to 4. Overall score ranges between 27 and 108; a decrease in the patient's total score indicates a decrease in the patient's perceived barriers to HCV care.

    Measured: Immediately before and immediately after use of the education app, up to 1 hour

  3. Change in level of motivation to receive HCV care as assessed by a Likert Scale

    The survey uses a Likert Scale with 27 items; each item scored from 1 to 4. Overall score ranges between 27 and 108; a decrease in the patient's total score indicates an increase in the patient's motivation to receive HCV care.

    Measured: Immediately before and immediately after use of the education app, up to 1 hour

  4. Number of patients who begin HCV antiviral treatment

    Number of patients who begin HCV antiviral treatment will be used to measure initiation of HCV antiviral treatment rate.

    Measured: 28 months

  5. Number of patients who complete HCV antiviral treatment

    Number of patients who complete HCV antiviral treatment will be used to measure the completion of HCV antiviral treatment rate.

    Measured: 28 months

  6. Number of patients who have an undetectable viral load 12 weeks after completing HCV antiviral treatment

    Number of patients who have an undetectable viral load 12 weeks after completing HCV antiviral treatment will be used to measure the sustained virologic response rate.

    Measured: 28 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted14 Nov 2019
  2. Study start24 Mar 2022
  3. Primary completionApr 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completionJul 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Health services research
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
308 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04162938
Sponsor's protocol ID
IRB00227304
Status last verified
Sep 2026
First submitted
12 Nov 2019
Last updated
29 Sep 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Denniston MM, Jiles RB, Drobeniuc J, Klevens RM, Ward JW, McQuillan GM, Holmberg SD. Chronic hepatitis C virus infection in the United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003 to 2010. Ann Intern Med. 2014 Mar 4;160(5):293-300. doi: 10.7326/M13-1133.

    PubMed 24737271
  • Ly KN, Hughes EM, Jiles RB, Holmberg SD. Rising Mortality Associated With Hepatitis C Virus in the United States, 2003-2013. Clin Infect Dis. 2016 May 15;62(10):1287-1288. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciw111. Epub 2016 Mar 1.

    PubMed 26936668
  • Smith BD, Morgan RL, Beckett GA, Falck-Ytter Y, Holtzman D, Teo CG, Jewett A, Baack B, Rein DB, Patel N, Alter M, Yartel A, Ward JW; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommendations for the identification of chronic hepatitis C virus infection among persons born during 1945-1965. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2012 Aug 17;61(RR-4):1-32.

    PubMed 22895429
  • Hofmeister MG, Rosenthal EM, Barker LK, Rosenberg ES, Barranco MA, Hall EW, Edlin BR, Mermin J, Ward JW, Ryerson AB. Estimating Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in the United States, 2013-2016. Hepatology. 2019 Mar;69(3):1020-1031. doi: 10.1002/hep.30297. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

    PubMed 30398671
  • Maier MM, Ross DB, Chartier M, Belperio PS, Backus LI. Cascade of Care for Hepatitis C Virus Infection Within the US Veterans Health Administration. Am J Public Health. 2016 Feb;106(2):353-8. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302927. Epub 2015 Nov 12.

    PubMed 26562129
  • Viner K, Kuncio D, Newbern EC, Johnson CC. The continuum of hepatitis C testing and care. Hepatology. 2015 Mar;61(3):783-9. doi: 10.1002/hep.27584. Epub 2015 Jan 30.

    PubMed 25348499
  • Yehia BR, Schranz AJ, Umscheid CA, Lo Re V 3rd. The treatment cascade for chronic hepatitis C virus infection in the United States: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2014 Jul 2;9(7):e101554. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101554. eCollection 2014.

    PubMed 24988388
  • Rui P, Kang K, Ashman J. National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2016 emergency department summary tables. 2016. Vol 2019. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2019.

  • Galbraith JW, Franco RA, Donnelly JP, Rodgers JB, Morgan JM, Viles AF, Overton ET, Saag MS, Wang HE. Unrecognized chronic hepatitis C virus infection among baby boomers in the emergency department. Hepatology. 2015 Mar;61(3):776-82. doi: 10.1002/hep.27410. Epub 2015 Jan 28.

    PubMed 25179527
  • Hsieh YH, Rothman RE, Laeyendecker OB, Kelen GD, Avornu A, Patel EU, Kim J, Irvin R, Thomas DL, Quinn TC. Evaluation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Recommendations for Hepatitis C Virus Testing in an Urban Emergency Department. Clin Infect Dis. 2016 May 1;62(9):1059-65. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciw074. Epub 2016 Feb 21.

    PubMed 26908800
  • White DA, Anderson ES, Pfeil SK, Trivedi TK, Alter HJ. Results of a Rapid Hepatitis C Virus Screening and Diagnostic Testing Program in an Urban Emergency Department. Ann Emerg Med. 2016 Jan;67(1):119-28. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2015.06.023. Epub 2015 Aug 4.

    PubMed 26253712
  • Anderson ES, Galbraith JW, Deering LJ, Pfeil SK, Todorovic T, Rodgers JB, Forsythe JM, Franco R, Wang H, Wang NE, White DAE. Continuum of Care for Hepatitis C Virus Among Patients Diagnosed in the Emergency Department Setting. Clin Infect Dis. 2017 Jun 1;64(11):1540-1546. doi: 10.1093/cid/cix163.

    PubMed 28207069
  • Baumann LJ, Zimmerman RS, Leventhal H. An experiment in common sense: education at blood pressure screening. Patient Educ Couns. 1989 Aug;14(1):53-67. doi: 10.1016/0738-3991(89)90007-4.

    PubMed 10294790
  • Krauskopf K, McGinn TG, Federman AD, Halm EA, Leventhal H, McGinn LK, Gardenier D, Oster A, Kronish IM. HIV and HCV health beliefs in an inner-city community. J Viral Hepat. 2011 Nov;18(11):785-91. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2010.01383.x. Epub 2010 Oct 18.

    PubMed 20950406
  • Safo SA, Batchelder A, Peyser D, Litwin AH. The common sense model applied to hepatitis C: a qualitative analysis of the impact of disease comparison and witnessed death on hepatitis C illness perception. Harm Reduct J. 2015 Jun 20;12:20. doi: 10.1186/s12954-015-0054-1.

    PubMed 26092261

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Patient-Centered Electronic App in people with Hepatitis C, run by Johns Hopkins University at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Deanna Myer (443-287-6985, dmyer1@jhmi.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Linkage to care rate (days) (time frame: 28 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04162938, which also lists 23 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Sep 2026.

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