S3125 Increasing H. pylori Treatment Adherence and Eradication Through Physician-Patient Education

Introduction: Heliobacter pylori accounts for the majority of gastric cancers and 6.2% of all cancers worldwide each year. While H. pylori testing in the primary care setting usually is performed in a diagnostic approach, it is important to recognize the cruciality of treating and eradicating H. pylori to prevent mucosal changes that may lead to malignancy. While quadruple therapy is the recommended treatment, prescribing 4 different medications with varying doses and frequencies can be daunting, not only for the patient but also for providers to explain in a time-sensitive clinical session. Our quality improvement initiative focuses on evaluating and increasing rates of adherence to H. pylori treatment guidelines and rates of eradication testing through physician-patient education. The creation of a visual aid will be used to assist patients in tracking their medications. Methods: Resident and faculty in-person visits at 1 urban, New York City Federally Qualified Health Center were examined from May to December 2024. One-hundred six patients who tested positive for H. pylori were reviewed. Demographic data was obtained including, sex, race, gender, preferred language, insurance status, smoking history, and alcohol use. Patients were reviewed for which treatment regimen they were prescribed, duration of follow-up recommended, and rates of eradication testing. Results: Our patient population was notable for 71.0% of patients who tested positive for H. pylori being of Hispanic background. Seventy percent of patienta were Spanish-speaking. Twenty-one percent of patients were uninsured. Only 50.9% of patients were prescribed quadruple therapy. Forty-six point two percent of patients had eradication testing performed. Twenty-six percent of patients who tested positive for H. pylori were not scheduled for any follow-up appointment after diagnosis. Conclusion: Our data highlights that navigating H. pylori treatment may not only be daunting for patients committing to quadruple therapy, but also for providers. This data underscores the need for further education of recommended guidelines. Future directions for this project include evaluating if the incorporation of a visual aid in English and Spanish to assist patients in taking the treatment regimen to increase medication adherence. We hope that our quality improvement project increases resident confidence navigating H. pylori from a preventive medicine lens, achieving eradication now to reduce the risk of gastric cancer in the future.