Getting ready for hepatitis C treatment

Key points

Service providers play an important role in supporting a person with hepatitis C during their treatment journey.
Supporting a person with hepatitis C may include helping a person get access to treatment, engaging a person with a trusted provider to develop a treatment plan or connecting a person with additional supports, programs or services.

Support people to get access to hepatitis C treatment

After receiving a hepatitis C diagnosis, it is important for people to understand the benefits of taking treatment and being cured. Service providers can emphasize the personal health benefits, such as improved health and quality of life, as well as the prevention benefits. Connecting people to hepatitis C treatment is important and may involve additional supports, such as patient navigation or accompaniment to medical appointments, to help people access and stay engaged in their care and treatment.

Engage people with a trusted provider to develop a treatment plan

Engaging a trusted healthcare provider is essential for improving health outcomes, building trust and communication, reducing stigma and facilitating access to comprehensive care. An important step in this process is the development of a personalized treatment plan, which ensures that strategies are in place to help the individual complete their full course of treatment. When preparing for hepatitis C treatment, a comprehensive treatment plan can improve adherence.

Navigating drug plans

Service providers can support people starting hepatitis C treatment by ensuring their treatment is covered. This may include navigating public or private drug plans or connecting individuals with programs offered by pharmaceutical companies that provide support to navigate treatment coverage. These programs may also be able to pay a person’s deductible.

Strategies for adherence

Some people find it simple to integrate treatment into their daily routine. Others may want support to get ready to start and stay on treatment. When developing a treatment plan, the following strategies may help with adherence:

Choose a convenient time to take the pills every day, such as taking pills at the same time as daily activities like brushing teeth or eating dinner.
Do a “dry run” before starting treatment to identify potential barriers to adherence to treatment. This could mean practising the treatment routine using candies or mints.
Get a written copy of the treatment plan. This should include a simple-to-follow list of the medications, when to take them and how much to take.
Use timers or alarms for a daily reminder to take pills.
Use a tool to keep track of the pills, such as a blister pack, daily dosage pill container, app or diary.
If available, get daily or weekly dispensing of treatment to help keep track of pills.
Talk with other people who have been through or are going through treatment for hepatitis C.

Plan for birth control

If pregnancy is possible, birth control should be used during treatment. A person may want support to create a plan for birth control or integrate it into their treatment plan. A trusted provider can help tailor a birth control plan that aligns with the person’s hepatitis C treatment plan. This integrated approach can help manage any potential interactions between treatment medications and contraceptives.

Connect people with additional supports, programs or services

Accessing additional programs and services in the community can be important for some people with hepatitis C to ensure engagement in care, treatment and adherence. Community services, such as mental health services or housing and income support programs, can play a crucial role in supporting people with hepatitis C to get ready for treatment.

Mental health services

Some people may want support for their mental health or holistic well-being before, during or after treatment.

Some ways a person’s mental health or holistic well-being can be supported include the following:

If a person’s clinic has a multidisciplinary team, they may be able to access mental health services through various team members such as nurses, doctors, mental health workers, social workers, outreach workers and individuals with lived experience of hepatitis C.
A person can be connected to mental health and wellness services through their service provider.
A person can have more frequent check-ins with healthcare providers or support workers.
A person can be encouraged to reach out to family and friends or to meet with a supportive person regularly.
A person can be encouraged to attend a regular group with peers who have hepatitis C and are going through treatment, if available.

Resources for service providers