Developing a Community Peer Support model to improve access to HCV treatments for PWID. Lar Murphy,Ireland

Disclaimers Partial funding received from the Health Service Executive, the European Union and unrestricted grants from AbbVie and input into project development from Gilead Sciences This meeting is part of the joint action ‘677085 / HA-REACT,’ which has received funding from the European Union’s Health Programme (2014-2020).

Why Peer Support? Peer support models are thought to be effective in engaging hard to reach individuals with Hepatitis C. In Ireland whilst peer support is used on an ad hoc basis by homeless and addiction specific community based services there is an urgent need to develop an evidence based peer support model to enhance access to the HCV care Pathway to ensure that those with the most significant disease are supported to get appropriate care & treatment

Objective To provide an evidence base for the effectiveness of the Hep Friend concept with a view of scaling up and exporting the model to other geographies through community partnerships.

Methods A community consultation process was initiated by the HepCare Europe team and representation was sought from organisations with expertise in the needs of this particular cohort in particular input from those with a lived experience of HCV. Through community collaboration & partnership a HepFriend Peer Support model for Dublin was developed between HepCare EU & 4 key organisations along with a welcome commitment to deliver a 12 month pilot project in the community. Clients undertook a two day training programme to equip them for the role.

Findings/Results The Hepfriend study is currently at mid point in its duration, therefore findings are not complete. So far we have found . Each organisation has nominated 4 HepFriend peer workers with a lived experience of HCV to volunteer on the project during the pilot phase, this gives a collective number of 12 HepFriend peer workers. The types of intervention carried out by the volunteers include support and information on the HCV care pathway; peer facilitated referral and attendance at clinical appointment if required.

Observations at this Stage (from one site) June to September 2017 Trained Hepfriend support provided for : Hospital visits N =10 Overall = 5 ( Unique Clients) DNAs = 0

Summary Any planned intervention for HCV must engage many services and not just focus on treatment alone, this makes peer support a particularly important element in working with this vulnerable population Quote from a client in a Hepatology Unit to Hepfriend peer worker, during a three hour waiting period “ I would have walked out of here by now if it wasn`t for you- I would have thought they were deliberately ignoring me”

What Now? Our observations of the impact of Hepfriend support, emotionally and educationally indicates that their presence is positive. Clients indicated they felt more confident, less anxious and more involved with their own treatment journey. It is important that all stakeholders – clinicians, NGOs and Community collaborate to make role of the Hepfriend Peer Support worker integral and sustainable.

Acknowledgements HepCare EU Mater Misericordiae University Hospital Community Response Hep C Partnership Coolmine Therapeutic Community Chrysalis Community Drug Project All the clients who gave of their time freely to participate in the study.