Summary of the Article
The article written by Rena Fox (2013) is aimed at informing the audience about the approval of two drugs that can be used for the treatment of hepatitis C. These medications can be described as protease inhibitors (Fox 2013). These drugs are based on the combination of rebavirin and peginterferon.
Their main advantage is the increased SVR (sustained viral response). Nevertheless, the author notes that the treatment of hepatitis C has to become more elaborated because there are many strains of this virus (Fox 2013). However, these new drugs can offer new opportunities for patients and physicians. This is one of the aspects that should be taken into account.
The author mentions other drugs that are not tested by pharmaceutical companies. On the whole, the clinical trials of new drugs indicate that these medications can be more effective than many existing ones (Fox, 2013). Furthermore, she describes the principles that medical professionals should follow. In particular, they should evaluate every candidate for antiviral treatment (Fox, 2013).
Moreover, much attention should be paid to the possible contraindications that a person can have. Provided that contraindications prevent a person from being eligible for antiviral therapy, one should focus on the tested methods of hepatitis C treatment (Fox, 2013). Overall, the author mentions that a medical professional should decide whether the treatment can be deterred or not.
This question is particularly important at the time when there can be breakthrough treatments of hepatitis C. Under such circumstances, one should focus on the patient’s physical or mental condition and the stage of the disease. These are the main issues that Rena Fox examines in this article. To a great extent, this text can be used a guide by practitioners working with patients who have hepatitis C.
Significance to the course contents
This article can be relevant to the contents of this module as well as the entire course. First of all, it is possible to relate this text to the concept of global health. One should bear in mind that hepatitis C affects approximately 150 million people in various countries (World Health Organization, 2013).
Therefore, it is critical to find ways in which one can reduce the prevalence of this disease on a global scale. One of the tasks that should be achieved during the course is to identify the forces or factors that can shape global health. This resource shows that availability of effective drugs is the most important prerequisite for improved physical health. This is one of the main points that can be made.
Secondly, the article written by Rena Fox is closely related to the development of health promotion plans. This is also one of the issues covered during the course. As it has been said before, the author offers guidelines for determining which course of actions is most helpful for patients with hepatitis C.
Thirdly, one of the objectives that should be achieved during the course is to identify the strategies which are essential for the improvement of global health. In turn, Rena Fox (2013) demonstrates that a physician should not disregard the most recent findings of researchers, especially if these findings can be used to develop the most effective treatment methods (Roberts, 2010, p. 218).
These are the main issues that can be singled out. On the whole, this article can throw light on some of the strategies that medical professionals should adopt. This is why it should be overlooked by students.
Reference List
Fox, R. (2013). Staying Informed: Anticipating New Regimens with Direct Acting Antivirals for Hepatitis C. Web.
Roberts, P. (2010). Healthcare Research: A Handbook for Students and Practitioners. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
World Health Organization. (2013). Hepatitis C: Key Facts. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c