Telemedicine-based Model of Care for the Management of Hepatitis C Infected Patients: a Randomized Clinical Trial

This is a prospective, randomized study in which hepatitis C (VHC) infected patients will be randomized to two strategies for HCV care.

All HCV infected patients will be evaluated in a first face-to-face consultation with the hepatologist for fibrosis evaluation and treatment prescription the same day. Patients will be invited to participate if they are: 1) 18 years or older 2) have contact telephone number 3) sing the informed consent 4) have not advanced fibrosis (F3) or cirrhosis (F4) 5) are not under surveillance by another specialist or drug addiction centre.

Participants will be randomized into two strategies to assess sustained virological response (SVR) during follow-up:

1. The traditional model of care: one appointment for venipuncture for RNA testing to assess SVR (undetectable RNA 12 weeks after treatment cessation), and an appointment with the specialist for result communication.
2. Telemedicine-based model of care: The patient will be provided with a home kit to perform the dried blood spot (DBS) testing for HCV RNA at 12 weeks (SVR), and an appointment for teleconsultation and communicate the results.

Demographic, clinical and laboratory data will be collected to evaluate the characteristics of included patients and to study predictive factors of adherence.