Initiating and Maintaining a Hepatitis C Support Group: Referral Process - Hepatitis C
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| Referral Strategy | Most Appropriate Uses | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|
| Invitation in person or by phone | For small or process-oriented groups (e.g., patients on treatment) | Provides a personal connection; encourages participation | May be time-consuming or labor intensive, especially for larger groups |
| Mass mailing | For large groups (e.g., all hepatitis C patients) | Reaches a wide audience | Not very personal; provides little feedback on who or how many will attend;moderately time consuming and labor intensive |
| Provider-referred | When group participation is recommended as part of a patient's treatment plan | Encourages participation and compliance | Variability among providers in willingness to refer to group |
| Flyer | Large groups open to all comers | Requires least amount of effort | No feedback or control over who will attend |
| Newspapers, community bulletin boards | When the goal is to reach veterans not attending clinic on a regular basis | Increases access to underserved veterans | May increase clinical workload |
