Review for 10.1186/s12876-016-0438-z (2016)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Implement ation of Baby Boomer Hepatitis C Screening and Linking to Care in  
Gastroenterology Practices: A Multi -Center Pilot Study  
 
 
Version: 0 Date: 21 Nov 2015  
 
 
Reviewer: Frank Tacke  
 
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
 
This is undoubtedly a well -written and interesting study on implementing screening approaches 
for HCV in real -life. 
 
1.Contrary to the intention of a popula tion-based screening, the authors investigated a 
highly pre -selected population that presented to gastroenterology centers (e.g., 72% 
Caucasians). It is tempting to speculate how HCV prevalence would be affected if a true 
community -based approach was achie ved. The authors might discuss this point in more 
detail. I also think that this limitation / peculiarity of the study should be reflected in the 
abstract.  
 
2. Following my first comment, it would be very interesting to have additional data on 
the socio -economic status of the study participants (income, level of education). Possibly, 
this can be added for a part of the cohort?  
 
3.The adherence of the different centers to the study is unclear to me. How many of all 
patients that presented to the centers (wit hin the age group) participated in the study? 
How much did the inclusion criterion "ability to read and understand English" affect the 
HCV prevalence of the study?  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supporte d by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please spe cify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please comp lete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from 
an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of t his 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently apply ing for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other fina ncial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is ac cepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY licen se (http://creativecommo ns.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal