Report back from ASHM HCV Nursing Courses
Post date: 22 January 2008
Held in Sydney, 7-9 November 2007
Feedback from both the One-day Introductory Course in Hepatitis C Nursing (7 November 2007) and the Two-day Advanced Course in Hepatitis C Nursing (8-9 November 2007) was very positive and both courses have evaluated very well. The courses were targeted to nurses in liver clinics, drug and alcohol services, general practice, hospital, community and occupational health settings.
The Advanced Course was extensively revised since the pilot course in 2006 and was increased to two days duration allowing for more comprehensive coverage on managing patients with advanced liver disease and other complications. Additional time was also allocated to hepatitis B.
Of the 10 nurses that attended the Introductory Course, five were from NSW, one from QLD, one from NT and two from WA. Session topics included epidemiology, natural history and disease progression of HCV infection; diagnosis, initial management and lifestyle/referral issues - the nursing perspective; at risk groups; management of psychosocial, mental health and drug and alcohol; who to treat?; and the nurse's role in HCV antiviral therapy. Evaluation feedback from the Introductory Course was all extremely positive and comments included: ‘a very professional package. Thank you'.
Thirty-one nurses attended the 2-day Advanced Course in HCV Nursing including 18 from NSW, three from SA, two from Victoria, one from NT, four from Queensland, two from Tasmania and one from WA. Mary Fenech, Co-president, Australasian Hepatology Association (AHA), welcomed the participants by giving the opening address and a presentation on 'Professional issues: The Nurse's Role in the Liver Clinic and Beyond'. Other session topics on day 1 included advanced liver disease and its management; indications for liver transplantation; antiviral therapy in cirrhotic patients; and HCV/HIV coinfection. Session topics on day 2 included hepatitis B epidemiology, natural history, coinfection and treatment; management of HCV in special populations; alternative models of HCV treatment and care; HCV current Issues and 'changing the rules of treatment' and reports from AASLD.
Again the evaluations from the participants were all very positive with comments including: 'a very informative pleasant day', 'everything was excellent' and 'this has been very inspiring'. Participants also enjoyed the opportunity to network with nurses from other areas and interact in case study discussions. Presenters were not only expert in their topic areas, but creative in their delivery including the use of video and engaging PowerPoint presentations.
ASHM and the HCV Nursing Education Working Group (which developed the program and invited the presenters) wish to sincerely thank Roche for providing sponsorship of both courses. The collaboration with AHA on these and future HCV nursing courses is much appreciated and valued. Both courses will be revised further based on feedback from the 2007 course participants and will be conducted again later in 2008. Details will be listed at http://www.ashm.org.au/courses/ when dates are scheduled.