None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The aims of this study are to investigate new and novel models of care to improve ease of access to HCV testing and treatment for people who inject drugs (PWID) within community pharmacies. The study will evaluate the effectiveness, economic impact, and sustainability of outreach nurses collaborating with community pharmacists who dispense Opiate Agonist Therapy (OAT). Building a network of community pharmacies engaged in hepatitis C testing and care will improve access to diagnosis and treatment for people who inject drugs, leading to higher rates of diagnosis, treatment initiation, and cure in a cost-effective and sustainable way.
Interventions
The intervention delivers pharmacist- and nurse-led hepatitis C antibody screening in community pharmacies using a rapid INSTI® point-of-care (POC) finger-stick blood test with results available within one minute. Participants with POC results are supported to access confirmatory hepatitis C RNA testing and antiviral treatment, as indicated, through referral to general practitioners or specialist prescribers, and are invited to consent to follow-up to self-report treatment outcomes and permit co
The intervention delivers pharmacist- and nurse-led hepatitis C antibody screening in community pharmacies using a rapid INSTI® point-of-care (POC) finger-stick blood test with results available within one minute. Participants with POC results are supported to access confirmatory hepatitis C RNA testing and antiviral treatment, as indicated, through referral to general practitioners or specialist prescribers, and are invited to consent to follow-up to self-report treatment outcomes and permit confirmation of prescription presentation at the pharmacy they attend.
Sponsors
Burnet Institute / Health and Medical Research
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Primary purpose
Diagnosis
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria for participation: 1. Aged 18 years and over; 2. Risk factors for hepatitis C (e.g. People who currently or have injected drugs, people from custodial settings, people with tattoos or body piercing outside regulated settings, people who received blood transfusions prior to 1990, people with evidence of liver disease.) 3. Has not had hepatitis C RNA test in the last 12 months 4. Willing and able to provide written informed consent 5. Medicare eligible.
Exclusion criteria
1. Pregnant or breastfeeding women 2. Unable to read or understand English
Outcome results
None listed