GP/MAP Project Evaluation

Year

2021

Project Status

The Project commenced 1st July 2020 and is currently being implemented in GP practices in the Perth metropolitan area.

The evaluation component is expected to commence from June 1st, 2021.

Ethics Approval

An ethics submission is currently underway by the SiREN team.

Investigators

Dr Roanna Lobo (Curtin University), Dr Jonathan Hallett (Curtin University), Ms Tina Price. 

Brief Overview

Coordinated by Hepatitis WA, the GP/MAP (Methamphetamine Action Plan) project is a 30-month project coordinated by HepatitisWA and funded by the WA Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Program. First implemented in July 2020, the project involves a General Practitioner Liaison Nurse (GPLN) providing support to General Practitioners and Nurse Practitioners, and other clinical and practice staff. The project responds to recommendations from the Western Australian Methamphetamine Action Plan (MAP), which found that General Practitioners (GPs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) were previously referring patients with a positive hepatitis C serology for specialist treatment, and as such were inexperienced in the full screening and management of a patient with hepatitis C. This project aims to increase GP and NP skills, knowledge, and confidence in prescribing hepatitis C treatments.

Funding

WA Department of Health Sexual Health and Blood-Borne Virus Program

SiREN's Role

The SiREN team are conducting the process and impact evaluation of the GP/MAP Project. Findings from the project are expected to: Increase the capacity (skills, knowledge, and confidence) of GPs to prescribe direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment for hepatitis C; Increase the number of GPs prescribing DAA treatment for hepatitis C in WA; Increase the capacity (skills, knowledge, confidence) of GPs to deliver brief interventions to patients who use methamphetamines; and increase the number of GPs delivering brief methamphetamine interventions.

Projects Outputs and Impacts

The Project commenced 1st July 2020 and is currently being implemented in GP practices in the Perth metropolitan area.

Project planning, including an ethics submission is currently underway by the SiREN team. The evaluation component is expected to commence from June 1st, 2021.