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Rutstein SE, Muessig KE. Leveling Up PrEP: Implementation Strategies at System and Structural Levels to Expand PrEP Use in the United States. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2024; 21:52-61. [PMID: 38517670 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-024-00697-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Despite highly effective biomedical HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) options, suboptimal PrEP uptake impedes progress towards ending the epidemic in the United States of America (USA). Implementation science bridges what we know works in controlled clinical trial settings to the context and environment in which efficacious tools are intended to be deployed. In this review, we focus on strategies that target PrEP use barriers at the system or structural level, exploring the implications and opportunities in the context of the fragmented USA healthcare system. RECENT FINDINGS Task shifting could increase PrEP prescribers, but effectiveness evidence is scarce in the USA, and generally focused in urban settings. Integration of PrEP within existing healthcare infrastructure concentrates related resources, but demonstration projects rarely present the resource implications of redirecting staff. Changing the site of service via expanded telehealth could improve access to more rural populations, though internet connectivity, technology access, and challenges associated with determining biomedical eligibility remain logistical barriers for some of the highest burden communities in the USA. Finally, a tailored care navigation and coordination approach has emerged as a highly effective component of PrEP service provision, attempting to directly modify the system-level determinants of PrEP use experienced by the individual. We highlight recent advances and evidence surrounding task shifting, integration, service delivery, and tailoring. With the exception of tailored care navigation, evidence is mixed, and the downstream impact and sustainability of task shifting and care integration require further attention. To maximize PrEP outcomes, research will need to continue to examine the interplay between individuals, clinics, and the healthcare system and associated policies within which they operate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Rutstein
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, 130 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Kathryn E Muessig
- Institute On Digital Health and Innovation, College of Nursing, Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA
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O’Bryan G, Chirairo H, Munyayi F, Ensminger A, Barnabee G, Dzinotyiweyi E, Mwandingi L, Ashipala L, Forster N, O’Malley G, Golden MR. Assisted Partner Notification Services in Namibia: Comparison of Case-Finding in Persons With New and Previously Diagnosed Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and Success as a Platform for PrEP Referral. Sex Transm Dis 2024; 51:214-219. [PMID: 38412468 PMCID: PMC10901442 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000001922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Assisted partner notification services (APS) are widely implemented throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The effectiveness of APS among persons with previously diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is uncertain, and there are few published data on the success of integrating referrals for HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) into APS. METHODS Staff in 22 Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Service clinics offered APS to patients newly and previously diagnosed with HIV (index cases [ICs]) between October 2019 and June 2021. Counselors used a structured interview guide to elicit ICs' sex partners and biological children and assisted ICs to arrange testing of contacts. Contacts testing HIV-positive were linked to HIV services and those 14 years or older testing negative were offered PrEP. The primary outcome was the case-finding index (contacts testing HIV-positive ÷ ICs receiving APS). RESULTS Staff provided APS to 1222 (78%) of 1557 newly diagnosed ICs eliciting 1155 sex partners and 649 biological children. Among 280 previously diagnosed ICs, 279 sex partners and 158 biological children were elicited. The case-finding index was higher among ICs with newly diagnosed HIV compared with previously diagnosed HIV (0.14 vs 0.09, P = 0.46), though this difference was not statistically significant. Most sex partners testing HIV-negative were initiated on PrEP (67% in sex partners from newly diagnosed ICs; 74% in sex partners from previously diagnosed ICs). CONCLUSIONS Assisted partner notification services successfully identified sex partners and biological children with undiagnosed HIV infection when provided to both newly and previously diagnosed ICs. Integration of referral to PrEP resulted in many HIV-negative partners initiating PrEP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian O’Bryan
- International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH), University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Harugumi Chirairo
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH), University of Washington, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Farai Munyayi
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH), University of Washington, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Alison Ensminger
- International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH), University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Gena Barnabee
- International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH), University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | | | | | - Laimi Ashipala
- Ministry of Health and Social Services (MHSS), Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Norbert Forster
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH), University of Washington, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Gabrielle O’Malley
- International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH), University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Matthew R. Golden
- International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH), University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- Center for AIDS and STD, University of Washington, USA
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Drallmeier T, Garrett EK, Meyr A, Salas J, Scherrer JF. Demographic factors, psychiatric and physical comorbidities associated with starting preexposure prophylaxis in a nationally distributed cohort. Prev Med 2022; 164:107344. [PMID: 36368340 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Due to a large number of small studies and limited control for confounding, existing evidence regarding patient characteristics associated with PrEP initiation is inconsistent. We used a large electronic health record cohort to determine which demographic, physical morbidity and psychiatric conditions are associated with PrEP initiation. Eligible adult (≥18 years) patients were selected from the Optum® de-identified Electronic Health Record dataset (2010-2018). Non-HIV sexually transmitted diseases and high risk sexual behavior was used to identify patients eligible for PrEP. A fully adjusted Poisson regression model estimated the association between age, gender, race, insurance status, comorbidity index, depression, anxiety, dysthymia, severe mental illness, substance use disorder and nicotine dependence/smoking and rate of PrEP initiation. The cohort (n = 30,909) was mostly under 40 years of age (64.3%), 67.6% were female and 58.2% were White. The cumulative incidence of PrEP initiation was 1.3% (n = 408). Patients ≥60 years of age, compared to 18-29 year olds and Black compared to White patients had significantly lower rates of PrEP initiation. Anxiety disorder was significantly associated with higher rate of PrEP initiation (RR = 1.67; 95%CI:1.20-2.33) and nicotine dependence/smoking with a lower rate (RR = 0.73; 95%CI:0.54-0.97). PrEP is underutilized, and a race disparity exists in PrEP initiation. In the context of existing research, nicotine dependence/smoking is the patient characteristic most consistently associated lower rates of starting PrEP. Given the high prevalence of smoking in PrEP eligible patients, physicians may want to integrate discussions of smoking cessation in patient-provider decisions to start PrEP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Drallmeier
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1008 S. Spring, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
| | - Elizabeth Keegan Garrett
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1008 S. Spring, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ashley Meyr
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1008 S. Spring, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Joanne Salas
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1008 S. Spring, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Advanced HEAlth Data (AHEAD) Research Institute, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 3545 Lafayette Ave, 4(th) Floor, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA
| | - Jeffrey F Scherrer
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1008 S. Spring, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1438 South Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63104, USA; Advanced HEAlth Data (AHEAD) Research Institute, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 3545 Lafayette Ave, 4(th) Floor, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA
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