Health professionals play an important role in IC3 trials

Click the video below to watch an overview of the IC3 trial.

What does IC3 stand for?

IC3 stands for Identifying Cirrhosis and liver Cancer in primary Care.

The aim of IC3 trial

Our aim is to compare the number of people in appropriate early liver surveillance programs. This will help us determine if an early risk detection pathway in primary health care (GP practices) is effective and feasible.

Liver disease

Australia does not have a national screening program for early diagnosis of liver disease. We know there are some risk factors that predispose people to liver disease. Undiagnosed liver disease can lead to liver scarring, (commonly referred to as cirrhosis), which is the main risk factor for liver cancer, which is currently the 7th most frequently diagnosed cancer in Australia. Predictions are that, without a national screening program, this could be within the top 5 by the end of the decade.

What does IC3 do?

This trial, Identifying Cirrhosis and liver Cancer in primary Care (IC3), will test the effectiveness of an early detection program in general practice. We aim to recruit nearly 3000 people across Australia in different regional and urban centres. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups, with both groups essential to the success of the trial. Participants in the intervention arm will have a blood test which will tell us if further tests are required. The control group will receive information on liver health and continue to receive usual and appropriate care from the general practitioner. At the end of 12 months, participants in the control group will be offered the same screening test.   

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