Treatment pathways: similarities and differences
| Conventional care | Pharmacy pathway | Contrast | |
| HCV testing | Opportunistic HCV testing on presentation for OST therapy | Opportunistic HCV testing on presentation for OST therapy | The same procedure is provided in each of the study arms |
| HCV test confirmation | Test result is communicated and—if positive—referred for assessment in local treatment centre | Test result is communicated and—if positive—assessment directly undertaken in the pharmacy | Assessment for treatment is carried out at the pharmacy when the participant visits to obtain OST, not at a different site with a different provider |
| Treatment initiation | Suitable patients are prescribed treatment by a nurse prescriber at the local treatment centre and access treatment through DOT at their pharmacy | Suitable patients are prescribed treatment by a pharmacist prescriber and access treatment through DOT at their pharmacy | Treatment initiation is carried out at the pharmacy and not at a different site with a different provider |
| Treatment monitoring | Treatment monitoring is carried out by the specialist team in their clinic | Treatment monitoring is carried out at the pharmacy | Treatment monitoring is carried out at the pharmacy, not at a different site. Monitoring in the conventional pathway requires additional clinic visits |
| Treatment completion | SVR testing is carried out by DBST at the pharmacy | SVR testing is carried out by DBST at the pharmacy | The same procedure is provided in each of the study arms |
DBST, dried blood spot testing; DOT, directly observed therapy; HCV, hepatitis C virus; OST, opioid substitution therapy; SVR, sustained virological response.