Greenview Hepatitis C Fund is currently supporting research headed by Dr. Michael Volk, MD, MSc, at the University of Michigan on the development of a patient education tool and decision aid for the treatment of Hepatitis C. What does this mean and why are we supporting this research? Let's answer these questions:

Why is it so difficult to decide to go on treatment for hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C isn't always a death sentence, but you never know. You could feel fine - until you don't. The decision of whether and when to opt for treatment is very complex because:

• by the time a patient starts having problems with the disease, hepatitis C starts becoming more difficult to treat
• the current treatment is only 45-50% effective
• side effects of treatment can be intense
• treatment can take up to one year
• treatment is expensive (about $25,000)

How do patients' medical situations differ?

Each patient has a different medical situation. Some patients have an advanced stage of cirrhosis, while others may show no symptoms of liver disease at all. Some patients have high blood pressure, heart problems, weight problems etc. Others have another disease, such as diabetes. Others might have problems with substance abuse and so on.

How do patients' psychological situations differ?

Some patients will find the treatment easy to tolerate, while others will have difficulty coping with the wide range of side effects. Some patients suffer from depression or have other underlying mental disorders.
Some patients have family and friends to support them and others have nobody.

How can a decision aid help individual patients?

One aim of this decision aid, which will initially be paper based and later computer based, is to educate patients about the risks and benefits of treatment. That way patients can make an informed decision, and will be prepared for the side effects of treatment. Another aim is to help communicate patients' goals and preferences to the doctor, so the doctor can adjust his or her recommendations to fit each patient. This is called personalized medicine.

How will a decision aid affect the treatment of hepatitis C as a whole?

Because patients will be more personally involved in the decision making with their doctors and the decision will be based on their individual medical and psychological situations, the researchers expect

• greater patient and doctor knowledge
• greater patient satisfaction due to participation in decision making
• a greater number of patients choosing treatment
• a greater number of patients completing treatment
• improvement in treatment outcomes due to greater adherence to treatment program

What is the proposed budget for this research?

Year 1 ($51,000)
Year 2 ($80,000)
Year 3 ($18,700)

Why should we support this research?

Most medical research studies take many years and many, many thousands, even millions of dollars. This study will yield very useful results within 3 years at a modest cost.

How can you help?

Our immediate need is for $30,000 to complete the first year phase of this study. Please donate whatever you can through our online donation system. Small donations are welcome, too! Or you can purchase our popular cookbook for $15. Donate today and help hepatitis C patients make one of the most important and difficult decisions of their lives!