EPIC: Evaluation of Pharmacy-based Identification and Treatment of HCV

The research project aims to understand how pharmacies can be involved in the identification and treatment of hepatitis C (hep C). The study will look at the effectiveness of hep C testing and treatment through pharmacies with support from the Cool Aid Community Health Centre (CACHC). The study will also evaluate the readiness of pharmacies to take on these extra tasks at the pharmacy. This information will be used to develop future strategies to better detect, treat and prevent hep C.

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Key information

Conditions

Hepatitis C Blood-Borne Infections Communicable Diseases Digestive System Diseases Flaviviridae Infections Hepatitis Hepatitis, Viral, Human Infections Liver Diseases RNA Virus Infections Virus Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Cool Aid Community Health Centre

Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 1M8, Canada

About this study

The primary objective of this project is to decrease barriers to care for hepatitis C (HCV) treatment for people who use drugs through the use of rapid diagnostic testing technologies, and task shifting HCV testing and treatment follow up to include trained pharmacy staff. Secondary objectives are to evaluate interest, readiness, and effectiveness of community-based pharmacies as a location for the screening and treatment of HCV.

A prospective, longitudinal interventional cohort design will be used to enrol people who access community-based pharmacies and have tested for HCV RNA. Persons with untreated chronic HCV infection will receive direct acting antiviral treatment. This is a trial of pharmacist-led HCV testing and treatment versus conventional care in HCV positive patients.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Able to provide informed consent
Age > 18 years old
Documented HCV RNA test, interested in being tested for HCV antibody or at risk for HCV (ie. "Baby boomers": anyone born between 1945-1965, anyone known to currently (past 6 months) or have a history of injecting drugs, including anyone receiving Opiate Agonist Therapy (OAT), any gay or bisexual men who have sex with men (gbMSM))

Exclusion criteria

Declined to provide informed consent

Treatment and study plan

Hepatitis C Point of Care Testing and Treatment

Diagnostic Test

Pharmacy led hepatitis C point of care testing

Primary outcomes

HCV access to care for HCV testing and treatment

Time frame: 24 weeks

Number of patients tested for hepatitis C (HCV) antibodies through through the use of rapid diagnostic testing technologies by trained pharmacy staff that are found positive for HCV RNA and treated for HCV

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Cool Aid Community Health Centre

Other

Registry information

Acronym: EPIC

Important dates

Study start: 2020
Primary completion: 2023
Study completion: 2023
First posted: Jun 9, 2022
Registry last updated: Feb 7, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed