Author information

¹University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK. Electronic address: Charlotte.cook@soton.ac.uk.

²Hepatitis C Trust, 72 Weston Street, London, SE1 3QG, UK. Electronic address: Leila.reid@hepctrust.org.uk.

³Liver Unit and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust and University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TH, UK. Electronic address: Ahmed.ElSharkawy@uhb.nhs.uk.

⁴NHS Tayside/University of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN, UK. Electronic address: Andrew.radley@nhs.scot.

⁵Hepatitis C Trust, 72 Weston Street, London, SE1 3QG, UK. Electronic address: stuart.smith@hepctrust.org.uk.

⁶Liver Unit and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK. Electronic address: stuart.mcpherson2@nhs.net.

⁷Community Pharmacy South Central, Sentinel House, Harvest Crescent, Fleet, Hampshire, GU51 2UZ, UK. Electronic address: Deborah.crockford@cpsc.org.uk.

⁸University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK. Electronic address: J.f.dillon@dundee.ac.uk.

⁹University Hospitals Southampton, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK. Electronic address: Mark.wright@uhs.nhs.uk.

¹⁰Hepatitis C Trust, 72 Weston Street, London, SE1 3QG, UK. Electronic address: danny.morris@hepctrust.org.uk.

¹¹Carter's Chemist 114-116 Fowler Street, Southshields, NE33 1PZ, UK. Electronic address: hassanmalik90@hotmail.com.

¹²Community Pharmacy Tees Valley, UK. Electronic address: Sandie.keall@nhs.net.

¹³Community Pharmacy Surrey and Sussex, PO Box 1061A, Surbiton, KT1 9HJ, UK. Electronic address: juliapowell@communitypharmacyss.co.uk.

¹⁴Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK. Electronic address: Janet.catt@nhs.net.

¹⁵Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3LJ, UK. Electronic address: H.hampton@nhs.net.

¹⁶St George's NHS Foundation Trust, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London, SW17 0QT, UK. Electronic address: Helen.boothman@stgeorges.nhs.uk.

¹⁷Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK. Electronic address: sitalshah@nhs.net.

¹⁸University Hospital of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK. Electronic address: james.spear@uhl-tr.nhs.uk.

¹⁹Manchester University Foundation Trust & University of Manchester UK, Regional Infectious Diseases Unit, North Manchester General Hospital, Delaunays Road, Manchester, M8 5RB, UK. Electronic address: Andrew.ustianowski@mft.nhs.uk.

²⁰University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XW, UK. Electronic address: Paul.john@wales.nhs.uk.

²¹University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK. Electronic address: Hannah.stevens@soton.ac.uk.

²²University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK. Electronic address: s.i.khakoo@soton.ac.uk.

²³University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK. Electronic address: Jules@soton.ac.uk.

²⁴University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK. Electronic address: ryan.buchanan@soton.ac.uk.

Abstract

Objectives: This aimed to develop a blueprint for an effective community pharmacy Hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing service by producing a consensus statement.

Study design: This was a modified Delphi process.

Methods: We recruited a heterogenous panel of experts (who had been involved in the setup or delivery of a community pharmacy HCV testing service) by purposive and chain referral methods. We had three rounds of a modified Delphi process. The first was a series of questions with free text responses and was analysed using thematic analysis, and the second and third were statements for the respondents to rate using a 7-point Likert scale. Consensus was predefined in a published protocol, and the results were reviewed by a public and patient involvement panel before the statement was finalised.

Results: We had 24 participants, including community and hospital-based pharmacists, local pharmaceutical committee members, charity representatives (Hepatitis C Trust), local clinical service lead, nurse specialists and doctors. The response rate of the first, second and third rounds were 100%, 96% and 88%, respectively. After the third round, we had 60 statements that reached consensus. We discussed the accepted statements with a patient and public involvement group. We used these statements to produce the I-COPTIC statement and a graphical summary.

Conclusions: We developed a blueprint for the design of a gold standard community pharmacy HCV testing service. We believe this will support the successful implementation of community pharmacy testing for HCV. Community pharmacy testing is an important service to help achieve and maintain HCV elimination.