A Telephone and Mail Outreach Program Successfully Increases Uptake of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance.

ABSTRACT: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Society guidelines recommend surveillance with abdominal ultrasound with or without serum alpha-fetoprotein every 6 months for adults at increased risk of developing HCC. However, adherence is often suboptimal. We assessed the feasibility of a coordinated telephone outreach program for unscreened patients with cirrhosis within the Veteran's Affairs (VA) health care system. Using a patient care dashboard of advanced chronic liver disease in the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, we identified veterans with a diagnosis of cirrhosis, a platelet count ≤ 150,000/uL, and no documented HCC surveillance in the previous 8 months. Eligible veterans received a telephone call from a patient navigator to describ

SUBMITTER: Aby ES 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7262281 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature