A multimedia multilanguage web-based platform can assess and increase the awareness on HCV infection of Pakistani people living in Italy.

Frazzoni, Leonardo; Sikandar, Usama; Mazzella, Giuseppe; Fuccio, Lorenzo; Bazzoli, Franco; Brillanti, Stefano; Azzaroli, Francesco

Global eradication of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is hindered by infection persistence among high-prevalence ethnic groups with insufficient access to care. Educational interventions to raise awareness on HCV have led to identification of submerged HCV cases. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a web-based platform to assess and raise the awareness on HCV among Pakistani people living in Northern Italy. We created a website in Italian and Urdu language (https://survey-hcv6.webnode.it), and shared it to Pakistani people in Emilia-Romagna through Facebook groups. Participants had to fill a 15-item questionnaire on HCV infection, then watch a video on HCV, and respond to the questionnaire again. McNemar's chi square and negative binomial multivariable regression analysis yielding incidence rate ratio (IRR) were applied. 339 subjects from 600 (57%) participated and filled the baseline questionnaire. The knowledge on HCV infection was scanty. For instance, 32% were not aware of HCV, 42% only knew that HCV infection may be long-term, and only 14% knew the access to DAA treatment is provided by the Health Service. Independent predictors of worse knowledge on HCV were male gender (IRR 1.19), low instruction level (IRR 1.26), Urdu language preference (IRR 1.22), past use of intravenous drugs (1.2), and no previous HCV testing (IRR 1.36). The educational video significantly improved the knowledge on HCV among 67 subjects who re-filled the questionnaire, as 97% were later aware of HCV, 99% of the long-term duration of HCV infection, and 93% of the access to DAAs provided by Italian Health Service. We found a modest level of knowledge on HCV infection among Pakistani people in Northern Italy, identifying predictors of worse awareness. We provided a multimedia platform which significantly improved the knowledge on HCV infection. Consequently, this approach might translate into an improved linkage to care.