“It's not just running the test”: Operator experiences of implementing a decentralised hepatitis C point-of-care testing program in Australia

Background

The decentralisation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) point-of-care testing is a core part of Australia's strategy to meet WHO elimination targets. However, little is known about the experiences of providers implementing these interventions and thus what is needed to improve integration. The study aim was to understand operator experiences, including the challenges and enablers, of implementing point-of-care testing as part of a National Point-of-Care Testing Program.

Methods

Providers who were enrolled in the National Program and qualified to perform point-of-care testing were invited to participate in semi-structured qualitative interviews between April and August 2023. Data were analysed according to iterative categorisation and themes were organised according to Service delivery, Resources, and Governance—elements of the Health Systems Dynamics Framework.

Results

Of the 31 participants, most were from New South Wales (n = 17), were practicing clinicians (n = 18), worked in outpatient or community health clinics (n = 21), and had no previous experience using a molecular point-of-care testing device (n = 24). Many participants struggled to deliver HCV testing and treatment according to national HCV management guidelines. Some participants avoided using the point-of-care testing device altogether. Others found it challenging to manage the administrative load of delivering the National Program, including planning outreach and following-up clients. These challenges were exacerbated by workforce shortages, difficult-to-navigate IT systems, and a lack of specific implementation advice from Program leadership.

Conclusions

This study illustrates several challenges to and enablers of adopting a decentralised HCV point-of-care testing program, highlighting the need to further explore what providers require to effectively implement these interventions.