Patient and physician preferences for treatment of hepatitis C virus infection in Japan: a discrete choice experiment: plain language summary of publication.

What is this summary about? This summary explains what both people living with hepatitis C and doctors think is meaningful when treating hepatitis C in Japan. We asked people living with hepatitis C and doctors about their opinions on hepatitis C treatment using a questionnaire. What was the study question? "What do people living with hepatitis C in Japan and their doctors consider most meaningful when choosing treatment?" Why was it asked? Understanding what people living with hepatitis C and doctors value when choosing hepatitis C treatment may help support continuing treatment, which is important for eliminating hepatitis C. What were the results? Among 95 people living with hepatitis C and 118 doctors, both groups thought that the total out-of-pocket costs for hepatitis C treatment was the most meaningful thing. Safety was ranked as the next most meaningful thing. People living with hepatitis C were more concerned about costs for treatment and less concerned about side-effect risks than doctors. People living with hepatitis C cared more about the number of tablets they had to take each day than the duration of treatment. For doctors, both were about the same. What do the results mean? For people living with hepatitis C, treatment costs are the most important concern. Improving awareness of Japan's financial assistance programs may help reduce out-of-pocket costs for hepatitis C treatment, thereby making it easier for people living with hepatitis C to receive treatment. Providing care that is adjusted to the situations, concerns, and treatment goals of people living with hepatitis C may help reduce barriers and gaps in hepatitis C treatment. Simple treatment options, such as one pill a day and/or minimized hospital visits during treatment course can make hepatitis C treatment more accessible. Good communication between people living with hepatitis C and doctors may help them make treatment decisions together, based on clear explanations of options and what matters most to people living with hepatitis C. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) set a goal to eliminate HCV as a public health threat by 2030. These efforts will support achieving the goal in Japan.