Moderator-Panelist Discussion

The Compassionate Conversations series is aimed at highlighting effective techniques and answering questions on having sensitive conversations around difficult topics. For our second virtual conversation in this series, we will be focusing on patient-centered discussions regarding Hepatitis C, and how health care professionals in obstetrics and gynecology can support their patients. Hepatitis C is the most reported bloodborne infection in the United States. Over 65% of acute HCV cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2018 were among persons aged 20-39 years. Due to the increasing number of HCV infections among women of childbearing age, it is increasingly important for healthcare professionals to work with their patients to support screenings and care to prevent perinatal transmission during pregnancy. In this webinar, we hope to provide obstetric and gynecologic health care professionals and their patients with the tools to be confident in discussing Hepatitis C in a sensitive and respectful manner.

Objectives:

• Discuss how to have sensitive, patient-centered conversations regarding Hepatitis C.
• Demonstrate how best health care professionals in obstetrics and gynecology can document and screen for Hepatitis C in a sensitive manner.
• Discuss existing barriers to receiving treatment for Hepatitis C including bias and stigma, resource, and access issues.

This webinar was support by funding through the cooperative agreement CDC-RFA-CK20-2003 National Partnerships to Prevent and Control Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Disease Threats from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The views expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the official policies the Department of Health and Human Services nor represent an endorsement of the U.S. Government