Hepatitis
C
An Australian Perspective
Reviews
‘. . .this book covers all aspects of HCV infection in the Australian population in detail. It provides many references for each chapter. The editors have tried to develop a holistic approach to the topic, not just focusing on individual aspects and have effectively produced a text that will be of use to workers in many fields of health. As it does take a high-level approach, some sections may be insufficient as a primary source of information. However the text can be highly recommended to all individuals engaged in detecting or treating HCV infections in Australia. This paperback is a relatively cheap reference book and would be a useful addition to any diagnostic laboratory dealing with HCV.’
From review published in Australian Journal of Medical Science, May 2003, Vol 24, No. 2, by Mr Wayne Dimech, FAIMS, Project Manager, National Reference Laboratory, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
‘This book will be of inestimable value to anyone who has to deal directly or indirectly with HCV issues in their professional lives. . .’
From review published in Drug and Alcohol Review (2003) 22 (2), by Doug Mellors, Hepatitis C Council of South Australia, Inc.
‘. . .the book is a comprehensive tour de force. . .chapters are written by a cross-section of who’s who in hepatitis C in the country. . .must indeed be one of the most impressive volumes of its type in the world.’
From review published in ASHM News: The Newsletter of the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine, February, 2002, by Dr Joe Sasadeusz, Victorian Infectious Diseases Service.
‘. .
.Other educational materials have been released over the last 12 months
but perhaps none so valuable as the book entitled, Hepatitis C: An Australian
Perspective, edited by three Australian experts in the field of epidemiology,
clinical practice and virology. . .Crofts, Dore and Locarnini have undertaken
a difficult task. They have sought to pull together a wide range of experts
in the field of virology, medicine and epidemiology to provide for us
an up-to-date, easily readable but highly informative volume about the
complexities of the virus and the infection that it causes. The editors
have excelled themselves in producing this volume. I believe this book
will serve as a reference tool for multiple people within our society,
and far beyond Australia it will be seen as a major resource for multiple
groups dealing with hepatitis C. . .’
From review published in The Hep C Review, Edition 35, December, 2001, by Professor Bob Batey, Department of Gastroenterology, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle.
‘This monograph focuses on hepatitis C, a complex subject matter subdivided in 22 self-contained chapters, each with its comprehensive bibliography. The authors have co-ordinated successfully 30 professionals to distill the information needed to deal with the various fields touched by hepatitis C. The book is presented as an ‘Australian perspective’ but, in reality, it is a truly universal synopsis of the state-of-the art knowledge on hepatitis C, with world-wide coverage. A representative chapter is the section on ‘The epidemic’ with its detailed epidemiological data provided for the major geographical areas in the five continents.
The treatise is concise and well-written and tells us not only what to do about this world-wide epidemic, but also why. The section on clinical management is a shining example of what this book has to offer in that regard. Many reviews have been published on hepatitis C management, but none is more up to date than this section. Most books are somewhat dated by the time they are published but this is not the case here. . .
In summary, this treatise on hepatitis C is comprehensive and, despite the multitude of contributors, it has great cohesion. Whether one is a health professional in New Zealand or in the United States or the United Kingdom, this treatise is a ‘must-read book’ for internists and gastroenterologists (including hepatologists) and it will be particularly useful for the ‘addictionologists’ who are confronted daily by the health impact of this disease. . .The book will also help the afflicted patients. It will support them in their struggle to live with the virus and to preserve as much quality of life as possible.’
From review published in Addiction, Vol 97, Issue 9, September, 2002, by Charles S Lieber, Alcohol Research and Treatment Centre, Veterans Affairs Medical Centre, Bronx, New York.
‘This book is an excellent resource for healthcare professionals who work with hepatitis C, and for people suffering from this condition who wish to have access to detailed, up-to-date, technical information. The book is multi-authored and its main strength is its well-chosen authors – they are all Australian experts. . .
A manageable size at 350 pages, the book is well-referenced, well-indexed and, at $85, well worth the price.’
From review published in Medical Journal of Australia, Vol 178, 3 February 2003, by Katrina J Watson, Gastroenterologist, St Vincent’s Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria.
‘This book should perhaps be retitled Hepatitis C: All You Ever Wanted to Know. The editors, Nick Crofts, Greg Dore and Stephen Locarnini, are respected and experienced clinicians and researchers in viral hepatitis and blood-borne diseases. The contributors include a range of acknowledged Australian experts who bring together their unique perspectives, not only on hepatitis C virus (HCV) and its management, but also on issues such as discrimination and lifestyle factors, which are of major concern to affected clients. . .
Many disease or ‘organ-centred’ books are only of value to select clinicians, failing to appreciate or emphasise the central role that the patient/client plays in disease management. Understanding the role of HCV, or for that matter any disease within the context of a patient’s life, lifestyle and attitudes, as well as that of the larger community, is critical for an appropriate individual and societal response. To this end, Hepatitis C: An Australian Perspective has achieved what few medical books have succeeded in – to place HCV, a virus with extremely interesting virology and disease pathogenesis, strictly within the context of the larger epidemics of discrimination and ignorance. On a positive note, it highlights that, while more still needs to be done, much has been achieved in Australia in dealing with this epidemic.
By its very nature, this work is comprehensive, covering all aspects of HCV in its 380 pages. It is unlikely that busy health professionals will read the book in its entirety. However, the contents are neatly divided into sections – the virus, the disease, clinical management, living with the virus, the epidemic and responding to the epidemic – that enable key readership groups to navigate through to the relevant sections easily. The book has a uniquely Australian flavour, particularly the later chapters on responding to the epidemic and on living with the virus. It is, therefore, a ‘must read’ for clinicians and allied health professionals dealing with HCV-infected clients. . .’
From review published in Internal Medicine Journal 2003; 33 by J. George, Sydney.