In this section you will find links to key reference documents on various hepatitis C topics, including:
Aboriginal Peoples
Co-infection with HIV
Drug Information
Harm Reduction and Prevention
Hepatitis C General Information
Living with hepatitis C
Prisons & Correctional Issues
Testing
Transmission
Treatment
Youth
Aboriginal Peoples
Harm reduction policies and programs for persons of Aboriginal descent - Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) - This publication is intended to help better define harm reduction and to identify Canadian examples of harm reduction policies and programs used by Aboriginal peoples. (2007)
Hepatitis C & HIV Kit - All Nations Hope - These information factsheets describe HIV and HCV and are targeted towards Aboriginal Peoples.
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Co-infection with HIV
HIV-HCV Co-Infection in Ontario: An Environmental Scan Report of Existing and Required Resources Needed to Optimize Care - Univesity of Ottawa - An environmental scan of Ontario's HIV-HCV co-infection service providers was conducted as a first step to strengthen the current provincial HIV-HCV co-infection care infrastructure by responding to gaps in treatment and support services. (2009)
Treatment, care and support for people co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C: a scoping review - Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) - Providing care for people who are co-infected with HIV and Hepatitis C is becoming increasingly complex. This scoping review identifies existing HIV-HCV co-infection research in key areas of treatment, epidemiology, care, support, programming and prevention. (2009)
Guide to hepatitis C for people living with HIV- I-BASE - This guide is the second edition of the i-Base guide for people living with HIV and Hepatitis C. It is written with a positive outlook for management and treatment. (2009)
Guide to Hepatitis C for people living with HIV: testing, coinfection, treatment, and support - Treatment Action Group - This document is a treatment guide for HIV-positive people who also have the hepatitis C virus (called HCV, for short). The people who wrote this guide have direct experience with HIV and hepatitis C and wrote this guide to encourage exploration of the range of available care and treatment choices. (2008)
Treatment and Prevention Update HIV and hepatitis C: enhancing care of the co-infected patient - Ontario Medical Association (OMA) - Ontario Medical Review article on Hepatitis C and co-infection. (2007)
Roadmap for Addressing the Epidemic of HIV and Hepatitis C Co-Infection in Canada: Issues, Recommendations, Priorities and Next Steps - Canadian Treatment Action Council (CTAC) - In 2003, CTAC coordinated a number of regional fora and a national meeting to produce this document as a "roadmap" of barriers to the appropriate treatment, care and support of people who are co-infected with HIV and HCV, and to identify mechanisms and the key players involved in moving past those barriers. (2004)
Final Report: Estimating the Number of Persons co-infected with Hepatitis C Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Canada - Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) - This report quantifies and characterizes the extent of dual HCV-HCV infection in Canada. (2001)
Ontario HIV Treatment Network's HIV/HCV Co-infection Resources - Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) - The OHTN is a key partner on HIV/HCV co-infection intiatives and this pages lists summaries of their Co-infection Think Tank, Scoping Review, Task Force and Educational DVD.
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Drug Information
I-TRACK: Enhanced Surveillance of Risk Behaviours among Injecting Drug Users in Canada - Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) - I-Track is an enhanced surveillance system to track risk behaviours associated with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in people who inject drugs (IDU) in urban and semi-urban centres across Canada. (2006)
Straight Facts About Drugs & Drug Abuse - Health Canada - This booklet provides information on commonly used mood-altering or psychoactive drugs. (2000)
Straight Dope Education Series - Harm Reduction Coalition - This pamphlet series describes the forms, effects, and harms of a variety of drugs.
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Harm Reduction and prevention
Findings from the Evaluation of Vancouver’s Pilot Medically Supervised Safer Injection Facility: Insite - Urban Health Research Initiative of the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS - The following report addresses this concern by providing a lay person’s description of the scientific evaluation of Insite, as well as summaries of the research findings related to its impact. (2009)
Ontario Public Health Standards 2008 - Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care of Ontario (MOHLTC) - The Ontario Public Health Standards establish requirements for fundamental public health programs and services, which include assessment and surveillance, health promotion and policy development, disease and injury prevention, and health protection. (2008)
Learning From Each Other: Enhancing Community-Based Harm Reduction Programs and Practices in Canada - Canadian AIDS Society (CAS) - This project documents information on innovative and useful ways that harm reduction programs and practices are being offered in some of Canada's small to mid-sized cities, and some of the more effective ways that challenges to them have been overcome. (2008)
Distributing safer crack use kits in Canada: Questions and Answers - Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network - This document outlines why crack kit distribution programs are needed and answers a number of legal questions related to the distribution of safer crack use kits. (2008)
Needs Assessment for a Safer Injecting Facility in Ottawa, Canada - University of Ottawa - The objective of this study was to characterize attitudes of Ottawa injection drug users (IDUs) towards operational policies and services of Safer Injecting Facilities (SIFs) in an attempt to optimize uptake by and benefits for both women and men who inject drugs. (2008)
OHRDP Provincial Outcome Evaluation Report – Wave 1 Baseline - Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program (OHRDP) - The OHRDP evaluation provides scientific data on which to base recommendations for the operation of the OHRDP and to provide data relating to drug use practices, including access to injection and drug smoking equipment, access to needle exchange programs, self–reported HCV and HIV status and documented evidence to support advocacy efforts in Ontario. (2008)
Needle Exchange Program - Update Report - Ottawa Public Health - This comprehensive report provides details on Ottawa's Needle Exchange Programs with specific focus on comparing needs-based exchange policy with one-for-one needle exchange. (2008)
“I inject less as I have easier access to pipes” - Injecting, and sharing of crack-smoking materials, decline as safer crack-smoking resources are distributed - University of Ottawa - This research article describes how distributing safer crack-smoking materials by a NEP contributes to transition to safer methods of drug ingestion and significantly reduces disease-related risk practices. (2007)
A Helping Hand: Legal Issues Related to Assisted Injection at Supervised Injection Facilities - Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network - This paper considers the prohibition on assisted injection in safe injection facilities through the lens of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and suggests that the ban may run afoul of the prohibition on discrimination and the right to life, liberty and security of the person. (2007)
Reducing the Risks of Hepatitis C for People Who Use Crack or Crystal Methamphetamine - Ontario Needle Exchange Network (ONEN) - This reference manual provides concrete health, drug use, and resource information that can be used by harm reduction workers to help clients make informed choices about safer drug use and hepatitis C. (2007)
Hepatitis C and injection drug use - Ontario Medical Association (OMA) - Ontario Medical Review article on Hepatitis C and injection drug use. (2007)
Question and Answers: Harm Reduction - Ontario Harm reduction Distribution Program (OHRDP) - This page provides an evidence-based introduction to harm reduction and some of the controversy associated with it.
City of Ottawa Public Health Safer Crack Use Initiative Evaluation Report - Ottawa Public Health - In April 2005, Ottawa’s needle exchange program (NEP) commenced the distribution of glass stems, rubber mouthpieces, brass screens, chopsticks, lip balm and chewing gum to reduce the harms associated with smoking crack. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of this initiative on a variety of HCV- and HIV-related risk practices. (2006)
Ontario Needle Exchange Programs: Best Practice Recommendations - Ontario Needle Exchange Network (ONEN) - This documents presents evidence-based best practice recommendations for needle exchange programs (NEPs) located in Ontario communities. (2006)
Harm Reduction Training Manual - Superior Points - This harm reduction training manual provides information on the many facets of running a needle exchange program and interacting with needle exchange clients. (2005)
The Effectiveness of Bleach in the Prevention of Hepatitis C Transmission - Final Report - Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) - This paper provides background on HCV infection and summarizes the literature regarding the use of bleach as a disinfectant for needles and syringes. (2004)
European report on drug consumption rooms - European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction - This report aims to provide a descriptive analysis of the historical background, operational frameworks and outcomes of safer consumption rooms that can serve as a basis for a more informed discussion. (2004)
Injection Drug Use in Edmonton’s Inner City: A Multimethod Study - University of Alberta - This technical report summarizes the rationale, objectives, methods, and results of a multimethod research project designed to describe the IDU of inner city Edmonton. (2003)
A review of the evidence-base for harm reduction approaches to drug use - International Harm Reduction Association - This paper summarises the key principles of harm reduction and considers the evidence on the effectiveness harm reduction intervention. (2003)
Peer Manual: A guide for peer workers and agencies - Toronto Harm Reduction Task Force - This guide is for drug users, peer workers and the agency workers who serve and/or employ them. (2003)
Harm Reduction and Injection Drug Use: an international comparative study of contextual factors influencing the development and implementation of relevant policies and programs - Health Canada - This study examined the socio-political context for harm reduction initiatives related to injection drug use and HIV/AIDS and HCV in Canada and five other countries: Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. (2001)
CCSA Publications - Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) - The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) publishes a set of factsheets ranging in topic from Substance Use to Hepatitis C to Self-Harm in Prison settings.
Hepatitis C and Harm Reduction Reader - Harm Reduction Coalition - A compilation of articles on hepatitis C prevention, care, advocacy and living with Hep C.
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Hepatitis C General Information
Modelling the Incidence and Prevalence of Hepatitis C Infection and its Sequelae in Canada, 2007 - Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) - The objectives of this report were to estimate the following parameters: hepatitis C incidence and prevalence, the proportion of HCV infections diagnosed, the number of persons living with HCV infection by stage of disease, HCV-related morbidity and the future occurrence of serious complications of HCV infection. (2009)
Primary Care Management of Chronic Hepatitis C: Professional Desk Reference - College of Family Physicians of Canada - This desk reference outlines some key information for primary care physicians on the management of chronic hepatitis C. (2009)
Ontario physicians to receive new hepatitis C risk assessment guide, office materials - Ontario Medical Association (OMA) - Ontario Medical Review article on Hepatitis C and risk assessment. (2007)
Hepatology Nursing Standards - Canadian Association of Hepatology Nurses (CAHN) - In accordance with the nursing profession’s obligation to maintain and improve the quality of nursing care, the Canadian Association of Hepatology Nurses standards provide a basis for the evaluation of professional, ethical nursing practice in hepatology. (2007)
Examining the prevalence of hepatitis C infection in Ontario - Ontario Medical Association (OMA) - Ontario Medical Review article on Hepatitis C prevalence. (2007)
Hepatitis C Needs Assessment: Final Report - Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton (SPRC Hamilton) - The Research Council of Hamilton conducted a needs assessment to learn about the service issues and needs of people infected and affected by hepatitis C in Hamilton. (2006)
Responding to the Epidemic: Recommendations for a Canadian Hepatitis C Strategy - Canadian AIDS Society (CAS) - This paper represents the contribution of Canada’s HCV community to the formulation of an effective Canadian Hepatitis C Strategy. (2005)
Hepatitis C: A nursing guide - Canadian Nurses Association (CAN) - This guide was produced in Canada for Canadian nurses and other health professionals. The guide provides a holistic approach to nursing care of clients with hepatitis C or clients at risk of developing hepatitis C. (2002)
Publications & Resources: Bloodborne Pathogens Section - Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) - Various PHAC publications on Hepatitis A, B, C and other blood borne pathogens.
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Living with Hepatitis C
LIVERight: Healthy Living with Hepatitis C - Canadian Liver Foundation (CLF) - Healthy Living with Hepatitis C is a practical guide for people infected with the hepatitis C virus. Whether you have recently been diagnosed, have been infected with, or affected by the disease for a long time, this booklet can help you learn how to live well with this chronic liver disease. (2007)
From Silence to Voice: A qualitative glimpse into the lives of people living with hepatitis C - Michael Orsini, Associate Professor, School of Political Studies
University of Ottawa - This report is a brief glimpse of what was learned from the research interviews in the From Silence to Voice project. (2006)
Hepatitis C - An Information Booklet - Canadian Hemophilia Society - This information booklet is for people infected with the hepatitis C virus, and for their families and friends. (2004)
Hepatitis C and Common Disabling Symptoms and Treatment Side Effects - Canadian Hemophilia Society - This booklet provides information on the common symptoms of HCV and treatment side effects. (2004)
Hepatitis C: Nutrition Care - Dietitians of Canada - These guidelines serve as a general framework to assist the nutritional management of patients infected with the hepatitis C virus. (2003)
Hepatitis C - Helping You Feel Your Best - Dietitians of Canada - This factsheet discusses healthy eating and lifestyle choices for people living with hepatitis C. (2003)
Hepatitis C - Dealing with Discomforts - Dietitians of Canada - This factsheet discusses tips to manage side effects and symptoms of hepatitis C from a nutritional perspective. (2003)
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Prisons & Correctional Issues
Harm Reduction in Prison: The Moldova Model - Open Society Institute (OSI) - This report focuses on the introduction of harm reduction programs in Moldovan prisons and describes successes achieved as well as remaining challenges. Research was conducted in Moldova in August 2007 and October 2008, with seven site visits to prisons and one site visit to a pretrial detention facility, as well as interviews prisoners and pretrial detainees, NGO staff, and penitentiary system officials and employees at both the national and local levels. (2009)
Clean Switch: The Case for Prison Needle and Syringe Programs in Canada - Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network - This paper outlines the available evidence and the legal rationale, under federal Canadian and international human rights law, for Canada to implement prison-based needle and syringe programs without delay. (2009)
Evaluation Report: Correctional Service Canada's Safer Tattooing Practices Pilot Initiative - Correctional Service Canada (CSC) - In August 2005, CSC began its pilot of the Safer Tattooing Practices Initiative (STPI), which was implemented through an education component and an operational component. This report provides findings of the targeted evaluation of the STPI. (2009)
HIV/AIDS and HCV in Prisons A Select Annotated Bibliography - International Affairs Directorate, Health Canada - This annotated bibliography was intended as a background document for the 3rd International Policy Dialogue on HIV/AIDS: HIV/AIDS in Prisons , which took place in 2005. (2005)
Harm reduction policies and programs for persons involved in the criminal justice system - Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) - This document is intended to provide information relating to the implementation of policies and programs on the reduction of harms associated with substance abuse in the Canadian criminal justice system. (2005)
Unlocking Our Futures: A National Study on Women, Prisons, HIV, and Hepatitis C - Prisoners' HIV/AIDS Support Action Network (PASAN) - Unlocking Our Futures is a qualitative evaluative study investigating the perceptions and lived experiences of federally incarcerated women regarding HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C (HCV). (2003)
PASAN Library - Prisoners' HIV/AIDS Support Action Network (PASAN) - This section of PASAN's website has a number of position papers, research articles, and policy briefs relating to HIV, Hep C, and prisons, including Hard Time: HIV and Hepatitis C Prevention Programming for Prisoners in Canada (2007), and Driving the Point Home: A Strategy for Safer Tattooing in Canadian Prisons (2003).
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Testing
General Test Requisition - Ontario Public Health Laboratories - This general public health lab form is intended for the ordering virology tests including hepatitis C antibody and hepatitis C RNA, by clinicians or the delegated staff. (2007)
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA and Genotype Testing and Intepretation - Update - Ontario Public Health Laboratories - This Labstract provides information on the current HCV RNA PCR test in Ontario and how to interpret the results. (2008)
Hepatitis C Virus - Anti-HCV Positive Results, Next Steps - Ontario Public Health Laboratories - This Labstract provides information on Hep C antibody testing and an algorithm to guide you through interpretation of the antibody test as well as next steps after receiving the results. (2008)
Hepatitis PCR Information Form and Requisition - Hepatitis C RNA and/or Hepatitis B DNA Viral Load - Ontario Public Health Laboratories - This requisition form outlines collection and submission instructions for Hepatitis C RNA testing. This requisition can be filled out electronically and submitted along with the serum sample for treatment monitoring.
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Transmission
Guidelines for Assessing Risk - Canadian AIDS Society (CAS) - The 5th edition of HIV Transmission: Guidelines for Assessing Risk incorporate hepatitis C (HCV) information and a section on assessing the risk of HCV infection. (2004)
Hepatitis C Prevention: An examination of current international evidence - Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) - This report examines the available evidence regarding the prevention of the spread of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). (2002)
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Treatment
Hepatitis C: New Treatments in the Pipeline - Treatment Action Group - New treatments for hepatitis C are needed. This document summarizes some of the direction research is taking to meet the treatment needs of people living with hepatitis C. (2008)
Management of chronic Hepatitis C: Consensus Guidelines 2007 - Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver (CASL) - This document highlights the modifications to the standard course of treatment for hepatitis C that came from the 2007 consensus development conference. It reviews the epidemiology of hepatitis C in Canada, treatment of acute hepatitis C and new algorithms in chronic hepatitis C, including retreatment of previous treatment failures. (2007)
Experiences of hepatitis C treatment and its management - National Centre in HIV Social Research, Australia - This report is from a study into the treatment experiences of people with hepatitis C virus infection and the experiences of the health professionals who treated them. (2006)
A Guide to Hepatitis C: Preparing for Treatment - Hepatitis C Support Project - The purpose of this guide is to provide tools to help prepare people for HCV treatment. (2006)
Management of Viral Hepatitis: A Canadian Consensus Conference 2003/2004 - Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver (CASL) - The 2004 consensus conference updated treatment information for hepatitis C. It also provided an opportunity to identify gaps in the overall management of viral hepatitis in Canada and to set the stage for future strategic direction. (2004)
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Youth
High-Risk Youth, Drug Use and Hepatitis C in Kingston, Ontario: Rapid Assessment and Response Report - Kingston Community Health Centres - The objective of this report was to collect and analyse information about drug use and hepatitis C risk behaviour among substance-using high-risk youth from age 16-24 in Kingston–information that would guide the development of effective youth-specific outreach, prevention and education responses. (2009)
Hepatitis C & STI Surveillance & Epidemiology: Street Youth in Canada - Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) - The main report contains an overview of available data and the sub-reports address specific issues relating to the street youth population and contain more complex and in-depth analyses on STIs, substance use and associated sexual risk behaviours as well as injection drug use and Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Canadian Street Youth (1999-2005). (2009)
Harm reduction policies and programs for youth - Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) - The purpose of this paper is to stimulate discussion about youth substance use by critically appraising the theoretical and empirical basis of harm reduction. (2006)
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