Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in British Columbia, Canada: An interrupted time series study.

We assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance among individuals with HCV diagnosed with cirrhosis in British Columbia (BC), Canada. We used data from the British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort (BC-HTC), including all individuals in the province tested for or diagnosed with HCV from 1 January 1990 to 31 December 2015, to assess HCC surveillance. To analyse the impact of the pandemic on HCC surveillance, we used pre-policy (January 2018 to February 2020) and post-policy (March to December 2020) periods. We conducted interrupted time series (ITS) analysis using a segmented linear regression model and included first-order autocorrelation terms. From January 2018 to December 2020, 6546 HCC screenings were performed among 3429 individuals with HCV and cirrhosis. The ITS model showed an immediate decrease in HCC screenings in March and April 2020, with an overall level change of -71 screenings [95% confidence interval (CI): -105.9, -18.9]. We observed a significant decrease in HCC surveillance among study participants, regardless of HCV treatment status and age group, with the sharpest decrease among untreated HCV patients. A recovery of HCC surveillance followed this decline, reflected in an increasing trend of 7.8 screenings (95% CI: 0.6, 13.5) per month during the post-policy period. There was no level or trend change in the number of individuals diagnosed with HCC. We observed a sharp decline in HCC surveillance among people living with HCV and cirrhosis in BC following the COVID-19 pandemic control measures. HCC screening returned to pre-pandemic levels by mid-2020.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hepatitis C Treatment Initiation in British Columbia, Canada: An Interrupted Time Series Study.

We investigated the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on hepatitis C (HCV) treatment initiation, including by birth cohort and injection drug use status, in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Using population data from the BC COVID-19 Cohort, we conducted interrupted time series analyses, estimating changes in HCV treatment initiation following the introduction of pandemic-related policies in March 2020. The study included a pre-policy period (April 2018 to March 2020) and three follow-up periods (April to December 2020, January to December 2021, and January to December 2022). The level of HCV treatment initiation decreased by 26% in April 2020 (rate ratio 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60 to 0.91). Overall, no statistically significant difference in HCV treatment initiation occurred over the 2020 and 2021 post-policy periods, and an increase of 34.4% (95% CI 0.6 to 75.8) occurred in 2022 (equating to 321 additional people initiating treatment), relative to expectation. Decreases in HCV treatment initiation occurred in 2020 for people born between 1965 and 1974 (25.5%) and people who inject drugs (24.5%), relative to expectation. In summary, the pandemic was associated with short-term disruptions in HCV treatment initiation in BC, which were greater for people born 1965 to 1974 and people who inject drugs.

Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events After SARS-CoV-2 Infection in British Columbia: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is associated with increased risk of post-acute cardiovascular outcomes. Population-based evidence for long periods of observation is still limited. METHODS: This population-based cohort study was conducted using data (2020-2021) from the British Columbia COVID-19 Cohort. The exposure of interest was severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, identified through reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Individuals who tested positive (exposed) on RT-PCR were matched to negative controls (unexposed) on sex, age, and RT-PCR collection date in a 1:4 ratio. Outcomes of interest were incident major adverse cardiovascular events and acute myocardial infarction, identified more than 30 days after RT-PCR collection date. The association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and cardiovascular risk was assessed through multivariable survival models. Population attributable fractions were computed from Cox models. RESULTS: We included 649,320 individuals: 129,864 exposed and 519,456 unexposed. The median duration of follow-up was 260 days; 1,786 events (0.34%) took place among the unexposed, and 702 (0.54%) in the exposed. The risk of major adverse cardiovascular events was higher in the exposed (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22-1.46), with greater risk observed in those who were hospitalized (aHR 3.81; 95% CI, 3.12-4.65) or required intensive care unit admission (aHR 6.25; 95% CI, 4.59-8.52) compared with the unexposed group. The fraction of cardiovascular events attributable to SARS-CoV-2 was 7.04% (95% CI, 4.67-9.41%). Comparable results were observed for acute myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with higher cardiovascular risk, with graded increase across the acute COVID-19 severity, contributing to 7% of incident major adverse cardiovascular events. These findings suggest that long-term monitoring of cardiovascular risk is required in COVID-19 survivors.

Treatment of HCV with direct-acting antivirals on reducing mortality related to extrahepatic manifestations: a large population-based study in British Columbia, Canada.

Background: HCV infection is associated with mortality due to extrahepatic manifestations (EHM). Sustained virologic response (SVR) following direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy has been linked to decreased all-cause and liver-related mortality. However, evidence regarding the impact of DAA on EHM-related deaths is lacking. This study aimed to assess the impact of DAA and SVR on EHM-related mortality. Methods: The British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort comprises ∼1.7 million people tested for HCV between 1990 and 2015 and is linked with administrative health data. Among individuals diagnosed with HCV by 12/31/2020, those who received at least one DAA treatment were matched to those who never received treatment by the year of their first HCV RNA positive date. We compared three groups: treated & SVR, treated & no-SVR, and untreated; and generated EHM mortality rates and incidence curves. To account for differences in baseline characteristics, we used inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTW). IPTW-weighted multivariable cause-specific Cox regression models were adjusted for competing risk and confounders. Findings: Study population included 12,815 treated (12,287 SVR, 528 no-SVR) and 12,815 untreated individuals (median follow-up 3.4 years, IQR 2.9). The untreated group had the highest EHM mortality rate (30.9 per 1000 person-years [PY], 95% CI 29.2-32.8), followed by the treated & no-SVR group (21.2 per 1000 PY, 95% CI 14.9-30.1), while the treated & SVR group had the lowest EHM mortality rate (7.9 per 1000 PY, 95% CI 7.1-8.7). In the multivariable model, EHM mortality in the treated & SVR group was significantly decreased (adjusted cause-specific hazard ratio [acsHR] 0.20, 95% CI 0.18-0.23). The treated & SVR group had significant reductions in mortality related to each of the EHMs (78-84%). Interpretation: Treatment of HCV with DAA was associated with significant reductions in EHM-related mortality. These findings emphasize the critical importance of timely diagnosis and treatment of HCV to prevent deaths associated with EHM, and have important implications for clinical practice and public health. Funding: This work was supported by the BC Centre for Disease Control and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) [Grant # NHC-348216, PJT-156066, and PHE-337680]. DJ has received Doctoral Research Award (#201910DF1-435705-64343) from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Doctoral fellowship from the Canadian Network on Hepatitis C (CanHepC). CanHepC is funded by a joint initiative of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) (NHC-142832) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

The 11th Canadian Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus: 'Getting back on track towards hepatitis C elimination'.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects approximately 204,000 Canadians. Safe and effective direct-acting antiviral therapies have contributed to decreased rates of chronic HCV infection and increased treatment uptake in Canada, but major challenges for HCV elimination remain. The 11th Canadian Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus took place in Ottawa, Ontario on May 13, 2022 as a hybrid conference themed 'Getting back on track towards hepatitis C elimination.' It brought together research scientists, clinicians, community health workers, patient advocates, community members, and public health officials to discuss priorities for HCV elimination in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had devastating effects on HCV care in Canada, particularly on priority populations. Plenary sessions showcased topical research from prominent international and national researchers, complemented by select abstract presentations. This event was hosted by the Canadian Network on Hepatitis C (CanHepC), with support from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and in partnership with the Canadian Liver Meeting. CanHepC has an established record in HCV research and in advocacy activities to address improved diagnosis and treatment, and immediate and long-term needs of those affected by HCV infection. The Symposium addressed the remaining challenges and barriers to HCV elimination in priority populations and principles for meaningful engagement of Indigenous communities and individuals with living and lived experience in HCV research. It emphasized the need for disaggregated data and simplified pathways for creating and monitoring interventions for equitably achieving elimination targets.

The Impact of Mask Mandates on Face Mask Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Longitudinal Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: Face mask use has been associated with declines in COVID-19 incidence rates worldwide. A handful of studies have examined the factors associated with face mask use in North America during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, much less is known about the patterns of face mask use and the impact of mask mandates during this time. This information could have important policy implications, now and in the event of future pandemics. OBJECTIVE: To address existing knowledge gaps, we assessed face mask usage patterns among British Columbia COVID-19 Population Mixing Patterns (BC-Mix) survey respondents and evaluated the impact of the provincial mask mandate on these usage patterns. METHODS: Between September 2020 and July 2022, adult British Columbia residents completed the web-based BC-Mix survey, answering questions on the circumstances surrounding face mask use or lack thereof, movement patterns, and COVID-19-related beliefs. Trends in face mask use over time were assessed, and associated factors were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. A stratified analysis was done to examine effect modification by the provincial mask mandate. RESULTS: Of the 44,301 respondents, 81.9% reported wearing face masks during the 23-month period. In-store and public transit mask mandates supported monthly face mask usage rates of approximately 80%, which was further bolstered up to 92% with the introduction of the provincial mask mandate. Face mask users mostly visited retail locations (51.8%) and travelled alone by car (49.6%), whereas nonusers mostly traveled by car with others (35.2%) to their destinations-most commonly parks (45.7%). Nonusers of face masks were much more likely to be male than female, especially in retail locations and restaurants, bars, and cafés. In a multivariable logistic regression model adjusted for possible confounders, factors associated with face mask use included age, ethnicity, health region, mode of travel, destination, and time period. The odds of face mask use were 3.68 times greater when the provincial mask mandate was in effect than when it was not (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.68, 95% CI 3.33-4.05). The impact of the mask mandate was greatest in restaurants, bars, or cafés (mandate: aOR 7.35, 95% CI 4.23-12.78 vs no mandate: aOR 2.81, 95% CI 1.50-5.26) and in retail locations (mandate: aOR 19.94, 95% CI 14.86-26.77 vs no mandate: aOR 7.71, 95% CI 5.68-10.46). CONCLUSIONS: Study findings provide added insight into the dynamics of face mask use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mask mandates supported increased and sustained high face mask usage rates during the first 2 years of the pandemic, having the greatest impact in indoor public locations with limited opportunity for physical distancing targeted by these mandates. These findings highlight the utility of mask mandates in supporting high face mask usage rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact of Hepatitis B Virus Infection, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, and Hepatitis C Virus Co-infection on Liver-Related Death among People Tested for Hepatitis B Virus in British Columbia: Results from a Large Longitudinal Population-Based Cohort Study.

Data on the contribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and related comorbidities to liver-related mortality in Canada are limited. We assessed the concurrent impact of HBV infection, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection on liver-related deaths in British Columbia (BC), Canada. We used data from the BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort (BC-HTC). We used Fine-Gray multivariable sub-distributional hazards models to assess the effect of HBV, NAFLD, and HCV coinfection on liver-related mortality, while adjusting for confounders and competing mortality risks. The liver-related mortality rate was higher among people with HBV infection than those without (2.57 per 1000 PYs (95%CI: 2.46, 2.69) vs. 0.62 per 1000 PYs (95%CI: 0.61, 0.64), respectively). Compared with the HBV negative groups, HBV infection was associated with increased liver-related mortality risk in almost all of the subgroups: HBV mono-infection (adjusted subdistribution hazards ratio (asHR) of 3.35, 95% CI 3.16, 3.55), NAFLD with HBV infection, (asHR 12.5, 95% CI 7.08, 22.07), and HBV/HCV coinfection (asHR 8.4, 95% CI 7.62, 9.26). HBV infection is associated with a higher risk of liver-related mortality, and has a greater relative impact on people with NAFLD and those with HCV coinfection. The diagnosis and treatment of viral and fatty liver disease are required to mitigate liver-related morbidity and mortality.

Association between close interpersonal contact and vaccine hesitancy: Findings from a population-based survey in Canada.

Background: Vaccine hesitancy threatens efforts to bring the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to an end. Given that social or interpersonal contact is an important driver for COVID-19 transmission, understanding the relationship between contact rates and vaccine hesitancy may help identify appropriate targets for strategic intervention. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between interpersonal contact and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among a sample of unvaccinated adults in the Canadian province of British Columbia (BC). Methods: Unvaccinated individuals participating in the BC COVID-19 Population Mixing Patterns Survey (BC-Mix) were asked to indicate their level of agreement to the statement, "I plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine." Multivariable multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association between self-reported interpersonal contact and vaccine hesitancy, adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, educational attainment, occupation, household size and region of residence. All analyses incorporated survey sampling weights based on age, sex, geography, and ethnicity. Results: Results were based on survey responses collected between March 8, 2021 and December 6, 2021, by a total of 4,515 adults aged 18 years and older. Overall, 56.7% of respondents reported that they were willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine, 27.0% were unwilling and 16.3% were undecided. We found a dose-response association between interpersonal contact and vaccine hesitancy. Compared to individuals in the lowest quartile (least contact), those in the fourth quartile (highest contact), third quartile and second quartile groups were more likely to be vaccine hesitant, with adjusted odd ratios (aORs) of 2.85 (95% CI: 2.02, 4.00), 1.91(95% CI: 1.38, 2.64), 1.78 (95% CI: 1.13, 2.82), respectively. Conclusion: Study findings show that among unvaccinated people in BC, vaccine hesitancy is greater among those who have high contact rates, and hence potentially at higher risk of acquiring and transmitting infection. This may also impact future uptake of booster doses.

Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation and Adoption of a Continuous Quality Improvement Program in Surgery: A Case Study.

INTRODUCTION: As postoperative adverse events (AEs) drive worsened patient experience, longer length of stay, and increased costs of care, surgeons have long sought to engage in innovative approaches aimed at reducing AEs to improve the quality and safety of surgical care. While data-driven AE performance measurement and feedback (PMF) as a form of continuing professional development (CPD) has been presented as a possible approach to continuous quality improvement (CQI), little is known about the barriers and facilitators that influence surgeons' engagement and uptake of these CPD programs. The purpose of this knowledge translation informed CPD study was to examine surgeons' perspectives of the challenges and facilitators to participating in surgical CQI with the broader objective of enhancing future improvements of such CPD interventions. METHODS: Using Everett Rogers diffusion of innovations framework as a sampling frame, the participants were recruited across five surgical divisions. An exploratory case study approach, including in-depth semistructured interviews, was employed. Interview transcripts were analyzed and directly coded using the Theoretical Domains Framework. RESULTS: Directed coding yielded a total of 527 coded barriers and facilitators to behavior change pertaining to the implementation and adoption of PMF with the majority of barriers and facilitators coded in four key theoretical domains environmental context and resources, social influences, knowledge, and beliefs about consequences. A key barrier was the lack of support from the hospital necessitating surgeons' self-funding their own PMF programs. Facilitators included having a champion to drive CQI and using seminars to facilitate discussions around CQI principles and practices. DISCUSSION: This study identified multiple barriers and facilitators to surgeons' engagement and uptake of a data-driven PMF system in surgery. A key finding of the study was the identification of the influential role of positive deviance seminars as a quality improvement and patient safety mechanism that encourages surgeon engagement in PMF systems.

Chronic hepatitis C infection is associated with higher incidence of extrahepatic cancers in a Canadian population based cohort.

Introduction: Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an established risk factor for liver cancer. Although several epidemiologic studies have evaluated the risk of extrahepatic malignancies among people living with HCV, due to various study limitations, results have been heterogeneous. Methods: We used data from the British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort (BC-HTC), which includes all individuals tested for HCV in the Province since 1990. We assessed hepatic and extrahepatic cancer incidence using data from BC Cancer Registry. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) comparing to the general population of BC were calculated for each cancer site from 1990 to 2016. Results: In total, 56,823 and 1,207,357 individuals tested positive and negative for HCV, respectively. Median age at cancer diagnosis among people with and without HCV infection was 59 (interquartile range (IQR): 53-65) and 63 years (IQR: 54-74), respectively. As compared to people living without HCV, a greater proportion of people living with HCV-infection were men (66.7% vs. 44.7%, P-value <0.0001), had comorbidities (25.0% vs. 16.3%, P-value <0.0001) and were socially deprived (35.9% vs. 25.0%, P-value <0.0001). The SIRs for liver (SIR 33.09; 95% CI 29.80-36.39), anal (SIR: 2.57; 95% CI 1.52-3.63), oesophagus (SIR: 2.00; 95% CI 1.17-2.82), larynx (SIR: 3.24; 95% CI 1.21-5.27), lung (SIR: 2.20; 95% CI 1.82-2.58), and oral (SIR: 1.78; 95% CI 1.33-2.23) cancers were significantly higher among individuals living with HCV. The SIRs for bile duct and pancreatic cancers were significantly elevated among both individuals living with (SIR; 95% CI: 2.20; 1.27-3.14; 2.18; 1.57-2.79, respectively) and without HCV (SIR; 95% CI: 2.12; 1.88-2.36; 1.20; 1.11-1.28, respectively). Discussion/Conclusion: In this study, HCV infection was associated with increased incidence of several extrahepatic cancers. The elevated incidence of multiple cancers among negative HCV testers highlights the potential contributions of screening bias and increased cancer risks associated with factors driving acquisition of infection among this population compared to the general population. Early HCV diagnosis and treatment as well as public health prevention strategies are needed to reduce the risk of extrahepatic cancers among people living with HCV and potentially populations who are at higher risk of HCV infection.

Cohort profile: the British Columbia COVID-19 Population Mixing Patterns Survey (BC-Mix).

PURPOSE: Several non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as physical distancing, handwashing, self-isolation, and school and business closures, were implemented in British Columbia (BC) following the first laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 on 26 January 2020, to minimise in-person contacts that could spread infections. The BC COVID-19 Population Mixing Patterns Survey (BC-Mix) was established as a surveillance system to measure behaviour and contact patterns in BC over time to inform the timing of the easing/re-imposition of control measures. In this paper, we describe the BC-Mix survey design and the demographic characteristics of respondents. PARTICIPANTS: The ongoing repeated online survey was launched in September 2020. Participants are mainly recruited through social media platforms (including Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp). A follow-up survey is sent to participants 2-4 weeks after completing the baseline survey. Survey responses are weighted to BC's population by age, sex, geography and ethnicity to obtain generalisable estimates. Additional indices such as the Material and Social Deprivation Index, residential instability, economic dependency, and others are generated using census and location data. FINDINGS TO DATE: As of 26 July 2021, over 61 000 baseline survey responses were received of which 41 375 were eligible for analysis. Of the eligible participants, about 60% consented to follow-up and about 27% provided their personal health numbers for linkage with healthcare databases. Approximately 83.5% of respondents were female, 58.7% were 55 years or older, 87.5% identified as white and 45.9% had at least a university degree. After weighting, approximately 50% were female, 39% were 55 years or older, 65% identified as white and 50% had at least a university degree. FUTURE PLANS: Multiple papers describing contact patterns, physical distancing measures, regular handwashing and facemask wearing, modelling looking at impact of physical distancing measures and vaccine acceptance, hesitancy and uptake are either in progress or have been published.

Epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections: trends among patients screened for sexually transmitted infections in rwandan health facilities 2014-2020.

BACKGROUND: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are of great global health concern. Currently, there are limited epidemiological data characterizing STIs in the general population in Rwanda. We assessed the national and regional epidemiology of STIs in Rwanda from 2014-2020 among patients syndromically screened for STIs in all health facilities in Rwanda. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of the trend of STIs epidemiology among screened patients at all health facilities in Rwanda using data from the Health Management Information System (HMIS) reporting. Adult patients (15 years and over) screened for STIs between July 2014 and June 2020 were included in the analysis. Outcomes of interest were the number of individuals screened for STIs and individuals diagnosed with at least one STI with a syndromic approach only or plus a test together. RESULTS: Overall, the number of individuals screened for STIs over the study period was 5.3 million (M) in 2014-2015, 6.6 M in 2015-2016, 6.3 M in 2016-2017, 6.7 M in 2017-2018, 6.2 M in 2018-2019, and 4.9 M in 2019-2020. There was a modest increase in the number of individuals diagnosed and treated for STIs from 139,357 in 2014-15 to 202,294 (45% increase) in 2019-2020. At the national level, the prevalence of STI syndromes amongst individuals screened at health facilities in Rwanda varied between 2.37% to 4.16% during the study period. Among the provinces, Kigali city had the highest prevalence for the whole 6 years ranging from 3.46% (95%CI: 3.41, 3.51) in 2014-2015 to 8.23% (95%CI: 8.15, 8.31) in 2019-2020. CONCLUSION: From 2014 to 2020, the number of patients screened for STI syndromes in Rwanda varied between 4.9 M and 6.7 M. However, the prevalence of STIs among screened patients increased considerably over time, which could be associated with public awareness and improved data recording. The highest prevalence of all STIs was observed in urban areas and near borders, and private clinics reported more cases, suggesting the need to improve awareness in these settings and increase confidentiality and trust in public health clinics.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on HCV care cascade in Rwanda: Ecological study from July 2019 to June 2021.

Content available: Author Interview and Audio Recording.

A Virtual Community of Practice to Support Physician Uptake of a Novel Abortion Practice: Mixed Methods Case Study.

BACKGROUND: Virtual communities of practice (VCoPs) have been used to support innovation and quality in clinical care. The drug mifepristone was introduced in Canada in 2017 for medical abortion. We created a VCoP to support implementation of mifepristone abortion practice across Canada. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the development and use of the Canadian Abortion Providers Support-Communauté de pratique canadienne sur l'avortement (CAPS-CPCA) VCoP and explore physicians' experience with CAPS-CPCA and their views on its value in supporting implementation. METHODS: This was a mixed methods intrinsic case study of Canadian health care providers' use and physicians' perceptions of the CAPS-CPCA VCoP during the first 2 years of a novel practice. We sampled both physicians who joined the CAPS-CPCA VCoP and those who were interested in providing the novel practice but did not join the VCoP. We designed the VCoP features to address known and discovered barriers to implementation of medication abortion in primary care. Our secure web-based platform allowed asynchronous access to information, practice resources, clinical support, discussion forums, and email notices. We collected data from the platform and through surveys of physician members as well as interviews with physician members and nonmembers. We analyzed descriptive statistics for website metrics, physicians' characteristics and practices, and their use of the VCoP. We used qualitative methods to explore the physicians' experiences and perceptions of the VCoP. RESULTS: From January 1, 2017, to June 30, 2019, a total of 430 physicians representing all provinces and territories in Canada joined the VCoP and 222 (51.6%) completed a baseline survey. Of these 222 respondents, 156 (70.3%) were family physicians, 170 (80.2%) were women, and 78 (35.1%) had no prior abortion experience. In a survey conducted 12 months after baseline, 77.9% (120/154) of the respondents stated that they had provided mifepristone abortion and 33.9% (43/127) said the VCoP had been important or very important. Logging in to the site was burdensome for some, but members valued downloadable resources such as patient information sheets, consent forms, and clinical checklists. They found email announcements helpful for keeping up to date with changing regulations. Few asked clinical questions to the VCoP experts, but physicians felt that this feature was important for isolated or rural providers. Information collected through member polls about health system barriers to implementation was used in the project's knowledge translation activities with policy makers to mitigate these barriers. CONCLUSIONS: A VCoP developed to address known and discovered barriers to uptake of a novel medication abortion method engaged physicians from across Canada and supported some, including those with no prior abortion experience, to implement this practice. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028443.

Perceptions of Educational Needs in an Era of Shifting Mental Health Care to Primary Care: Exploratory Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: There is an unmet need for mental health care in Canada. Primary care providers such as general practitioners and family physicians are the essential part of mental health care services; however, mental health is often underestimated and underprioritized by family physicians. It is currently not known what is required to increase care providers' willingness, comfort, and skills to adequately provide care to patients who present with mental health issues. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to understand the need of caregivers (family members overseeing care of an individual with a mental health diagnosis) and family physicians regarding the care and medical management of individuals with mental health conditions. METHODS: A needs assessment was designed to understand the educational needs of caregivers and family physicians regarding the provision of mental health care, specifically to seek advice on the format and delivery mode for an educational curriculum to be accessed by both stakeholder groups. Exploratory qualitative interviews were conducted, and data were collected and analyzed iteratively until thematic saturation was achieved. RESULTS: Caregivers of individuals with mental health conditions (n=24) and family physicians (n=10) were interviewed. Both the caregivers and the family physicians expressed dissatisfaction with the status quo regarding the provision of mental health care at the family physician's office. They stated that there was a need for more educational materials as well as additional support. The caregivers expressed a general lack of confidence in family physicians to manage their son's or daughter's mental health condition, while family physicians sought more networking opportunities to improve and facilitate the provision of mental health care. CONCLUSIONS: Robust qualitative studies are necessary to identify the educational and medical management needs of caregivers and family physicians. Understanding each other's perspectives is an essential first step to collaboratively designing, implementing, and subsequently evaluating community-based mental health care. Fortunately, there are initiatives underway to address these need areas (eg, websites such as the eMentalHealth, as well as the mentorship and collaborative care network), and information from this study can help inform the gaps in those existing initiatives.

The Impact of Current Opioid Agonist Therapy on Hepatitis C Virus Treatment Initiation Among People Who Use Drugs From the Direct-acting Antiviral (DAA) Era: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence that opioid agonist therapy (OAT) is associated with increased odds of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment initiation among people who use drugs (PWUD) is emerging. The objective of this study was to determine the association between current OAT and HCV treatment initiation among PWUD in a population-level linked administrative dataset. METHODS: The British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort was used for this study, which includes all people tested for or diagnosed with HCV in British Columbia, linked to medical visits, hospitalizations, laboratory, prescription drug, and mortality data from 1992 until 2019. PWUD with injecting drug use or opioid use disorder and chronic HCV infection were identified for inclusion in this study. HCV treatment initiation was the main outcome, and subdistribution proportional hazards modeling was used to assess the relationship with current OAT. RESULTS: In total, 13 803 PWUD with chronic HCV were included in this study. Among those currently on OAT at the end of the study period, 47% (2704/5770) had started HCV treatment, whereas 22% (1778/8033) of those not currently on OAT had started HCV treatment. Among PWUD with chronic HCV infection, current OAT was associated with higher likelihood of HCV treatment initiation in time to event analysis (adjusted hazard ratio 1.84 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.50, 2.26]). CONCLUSIONS: Current OAT was associated with a higher likelihood of HCV treatment initiation. However, many PWUD with HCV currently receiving OAT have yet to receive HCV treatment. Enhanced integration between substance use care and HCV treatment is needed to improve the overall health of PWUD.

Women in the 2019 hepatitis C cascade of care: findings from the British Columbia Hepatitis Testers cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Women living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are rarely addressed in research and may be overrepresented within key populations requiring additional support to access HCV care and treatment. We constructed the HCV care cascade among people diagnosed with HCV in British Columbia, Canada, as of 2019 to compare progress in care and treatment and to assess sex/gender gaps in HCV treatment access. METHODS: The BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort includes 1.7 million people who tested for HCV, HIV, reported cases of hepatitis B, and active tuberculosis in BC from 2000 to 2019. Test results were linked to medical visits, hospitalizations, cancers, prescription drugs, and mortality data. Six HCV care cascade stages were identified: (1) antibody diagnosed; (2) RNA tested; (3) RNA positive; (4) genotyped; (5) initiated treatment; and (6) achieved sustained virologic response (SVR). HCV care cascade results were assessed for women, and an 'inverse' cascade was created to assess gaps, including not being RNA tested, genotyped, or treatment initiated, stratified by sex. RESULTS: In 2019, 52,638 people with known sex were anti-HCV positive in BC; 37% (19,522) were women. Confirmatory RNA tests were received by 86% (16,797/19,522) of anti-HCV positive women and 83% (27,353/33,116) of men. Among people who had been genotyped, 68% (6756/10,008) of women and 67% (12,640/18,828) of men initiated treatment, with 94% (5023/5364) of women and 92% (9147/9897) of men achieving SVR. Among the 3252 women and 6188 men not yet treated, higher proportions of women compared to men were born after 1975 (30% vs. 21%), had a mental health diagnosis (42% vs. 34%) and had used injection drugs (50% vs. 45%). Among 1619 women and 2780 men who had used injection drugs and were not yet treated, higher proportions of women than men used stimulants (64% vs. 57%), and opiates (67% vs. 60%). CONCLUSIONS: Women and men appear to be equally engaged into the HCV care cascade; however, women with concurrent social and health conditions are being left behind. Treatment access may be improved with approaches that meet the needs of younger women, those with mental health diagnoses, and women who use drugs.

Impact of COVID-19-related public health measures on HCV testing in British Columbia, Canada: An interrupted time series analysis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Public health measures introduced to limit transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), also disrupted various healthcare services in many regions worldwide, including British Columbia (BC), Canada. We assessed the impact of these measures, first introduced in BC in March 2020, on hepatitis C (HCV) testing and first-time HCV-positive diagnoses within the province. METHODS: De-identified HCV testing data for BC residents were obtained from the provincial Public Health Laboratory. Weekly changes in anti-HCV, HCV RNA and genotype testing episodes and first-time HCV-positive (anti-HCV/RNA/genotype) diagnoses from January 2018 to December 2020 were assessed and associations were determined using segmented regression models examining rates before vs after calendar week 12 of 2020, when measures were introduced. RESULTS: Average weekly HCV testing and first-time HCV-positive diagnosis rates fell immediately following the imposition of public health measures by 62.3 per 100 000 population and 2.9 episodes per 1 000 000 population, respectively (P < .0001 for both), and recovered in subsequent weeks to near pre-March 2020 levels. Average weekly anti-HCV positivity rates decreased steadily pre-restrictions and this trend remained unchanged afterwards. CONCLUSIONS: Reductions in HCV testing and first-time HCV-positive diagnosis rates, key drivers of progression along the HCV care cascade, occurred following the introduction of COVID-19-related public health measures. Further assessment will be required to better understand the full impact of these service disruptions on the HCV care cascade and to inform strategies for the re-engagement of people who may have been lost to care because of these measures.

The perspective of Canadian health care professionals on abortion service during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic and pandemic response created novel challenges for abortion services. Canada was uniquely positioned to transition to telemedicine because internationally common restrictions on abortion medication were removed before the pandemic. OBJECTIVE: We sought to characterize the experiences of abortion health care professionals in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the pandemic response on abortion services. METHODS: We conducted a sequential mixed methods study between July 2020 and January 2021. We invited physicians, nurse practitioners and administrators to participate in a cross-sectional survey containing an open-ended question about the impact of the pandemic response on abortion care. We employed an inductive codebook thematic analysis, which informed the development of a second, primarily quantitative survey. RESULTS: Our initial survey had 307 respondents and our second had 78. Fifty-three percent were family physicians. Our first survey found respondents considered abortion access essential. We identified three key topicss: access to abortion care was often maintained despite pandemic-related challenges (e.g. difficulty obtaining tests, additional costs); change of practice to low-touch medication abortion care and provider perceptions of patient experience, including shifting demand, telemedicine acceptability and increased rural access. The second survey indicated uptake of telemedicine medication abortion among 89% of participants except in Quebec, where regulations meant procedures were nearly exclusively surgical. Restrictions did not delay care according to 76% of participants. CONCLUSIONS: Canadian health care professionals report their facilities deemed abortion an essential service. Provinces and territories, except Quebec, described a robust pandemic transition to telemedicine to ensure access to services. PODCAST: An accompanying podcast is available in the Supplementary Data, in which the authors Dr Madeleine Ennis and Kate Wahl discuss their research on how family planning care and access to abortion services have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Access to abortion care was challenged by the response to COVID-19. Canada had fewer restrictions on medical abortion than many other countries when the pandemic began. The goal of this study was to describe the experiences of health care practitioners providing abortion in Canada and the impact of the pandemic and the pandemic response measures on abortion services. We conducted two surveys of physicians, nurse practitioners and administrators between July 2020 and January 2021. Most of the health care practitioners who participated reported that medical and surgical abortion care were essential and that, except in the province of Quebec, there was a rapid transition to virtual telemedicine care for first trimester abortions. Several practitioners said that virtual care made abortion more accessible. Other practitioners reported that it was challenging to order certain tests, access operating room facilities or make referrals for late second trimester cases. Practitioners felt that patients had strong fears about COVID-19 exposure and reported that limited contraception access was increasingly a reason for seeking abortion care. The results of the study suggested that abortion was considered essential and that the pandemic instigated a transition to virtual care in all provinces and territories except Quebec.