Outreach modality linked to HCV screening rates

From Healio:

More patients underwent hepatitis C virus screening when there was a reduced effort in attaining a laboratory order compared with patients who had to request screening on their own, according to research published in BMJ.

“Screening rates in this group remain low and variable across practices. ... Screening might be increased by complementing efforts in clinic with direct outreach to patients’ homes, which has been incorporated into other population health initiatives,” Shivan Mehta, MD, associate chief innovation officer at Penn Medicine [and Assistant Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy], and colleagues wrote. “The conventional opt-in approach implies that the default is for the patient to not participate, while opt-out framing suggests that the status quo is for the patients to participate in the health promoting activity. Messaging that incorporates social norms, anticipated regret, reciprocity and commitment has increased energy conservation, cancer screening, workplace performance and vaccination rates."