HIV/HCV Co-Infection: An AETC National Curriculum

Friday, November 1, 2024, 8:00 AM - Monday, June 30, 2025, 11:59 PM

This curriculum provides an evidence-based, self-directed, online course of study for healthcare providers and trainers of healthcare providers to increase their knowledge on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection in the United States and its territories. Each of the six modules below provides continuing education credit. The modules are independent, and learners may complete as many modules as they wish, in any order.

AETC Program
The AETC NCRC (Links to an external site.) was funded to coordinate and facilitate the development of this national curriculum to be used for self-directed learning by health care providers as well as by trainers of clinical teams across the United States and its territories.
The AETC NCRC partnered with regional AETCs to develop the curriculum. 

Funding
This curriculum was developed as a component of the Secretary's Minority AIDS Initiative-Funded Jurisdictional Approach to Curing Hepatitis C among HIV/HCV Co-infected People of Color project through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB). Learn more about this curriculum (Links to an external site.).

1. Cite the incidence, prevalence, transmission routes, and historical patterns of HCV and HIV infection in the United States.
2. State the impact of HIV infection and HCV infection outcomes in co-infected persons of color, and the causes of morbidity and mortality associated with HIV/HCV co-infection.
3. Recognize the impact of HIV infection and HCV infection outcomes in co-infected persons of color, and the causes of morbidity and mortality associated with HIV/HCV co-infection.
4. Name primary prevention of HCV, including harm reduction education related to drug use, sexual behavior, tattooing, hormone/silicone injection practices, and perinatal transmission.
5. Name secondary prevention of HCV infection and the importance of harm reduction education, including antibody testing for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV).
6. Define patient education regarding best practices for treatment as prevention, including concepts such as viral suppression and partner notification and testing.
7. Recognize prevention of HCV reinfection prevention among people living with HIV who have been successfully treated for (or cured of) HCV in the past.
8. Define screening for, and diagnosing chronic HCV infection through history, physical examination, and laboratory (and other) testing.
9. Recognize how to identify, diagnose, and evaluate acute HCV infection.
10. State the fundamentals of treating HCV infection. Emphasis is placed on understanding how the treatment of HCV mono-infection is critical to mastering care of HIV/HCV co-infection.
11. Name special considerations (i.e., health impacts and medication interactions)when treating HIV-HCV co-infection.
12. List important informational sources and references for HCV management.
13. Cite treatment guidelines and engagement in care strategies for pregnant and postpartum HIV/HCV co-infected women.
14. Recognize how neurocognitive impairment, substance use disorders, other mental disorders (especially depression) affect the care continuum for HIV mono-infection and HIV/HCV co-infection.
15. Recognize the impact of stigma on HCV co-infected People Living With HIV (PLWH) and how it can be a barrier to entering into and staying in care.
16. Name strategies to address low health literacy and improve retention in care among HIV/HCV co-infected patients.
17. State barriers to care faced by HIV/HCV co-infected persons.
18. List provider-level and patient-level barriers to patient engagement in HIV/HCV care and strategies for how they can be addressed.
19. Recognize the importance of self care for hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected people living with HIV (PLWH)

This complimentary, asynchronous course is available to all healthcare professionals in all areas and is accessible until June 30, 2025.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (3.00 hours), ANCC Contact Hours (3.00 hours), General Attendance (3.00 hours)