Preparing for PrEP: perceptions and readiness of canadian physicians for the implementation of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis

Determinants of Familiarity and Experience with HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Primary Care Providers in Ontario, Canada

BACKGROUND

Despite increased access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Canada, familiarity and experience among primary care providers (PCPs)-including family doctors and those working with key populations-remains limited. To understand the barriers and facilitators of PrEP familiarity and experience, we conducted a situational analysis in PCPs in sub-urban and rural Ontario.

METHODS

We surveyed a non-probabilistic sample of PCPs using an online questionnaire, designed with the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Poisson regressions with robust variance were used to assess the relationship between CFIR domains, sociodemographic, and practice characteristics on both PrEP familiarity and experience.

RESULTS

A total of 54 PCPs participated (6% response rate), comprising 80% physicians and 20% nurses. Nearly 30% of the sample worked with key populations, including sexual health clinics and community care centers, 18% of respondents reported high familiarity with PrEP, and 44% reported PrEP experience (referred, started a conversation, or prescribed). PrEP familiarity and experience were associated with working in an organization serving key populations, working with gender minorities, and having colleagues providing PrEP. Providers with a positive perception of PrEP and its necessity for populations at risk were more likely to have PrEP-related experience. Higher familiarity and experience were reported by PCPs with specific clinical skills related to PrEP, and with the perception that PrEP was compatible with their practice as primary provider.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that organizational support, and additional training and education would facilitate PrEP provision by PCPs in suburban/rural Ontario.

HIV Prevention and Treatment Interventions for Black Men Who Have Sex With Men in Canada: Scoping Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Black men who have sex with men (MSM) experience disproportionately high HIV incidence globally. A comprehensive, intersectional approach (race, gender, and sexuality or sexual behavior) in understanding the experiences of Black MSM in Canada along the HIV prevention and care continuums has yet to be explored.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review aims to examine the available evidence on the access, quality, gaps, facilitators, and barriers of engagement and identify interventions relevant to the HIV prevention and care continuum for Black MSM in Canada.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic database search, in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist, of the available studies on HIV health experience and epidemiology concerning Black MSM living with or without HIV in Canada and were published after 1983 in either English or French. Searched databases include MEDLINE, Excerpta, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, the Cochrane Library, the NHUS Economic Development Database, Global Health, PsycInfo, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. From the 3095 articles identified, 19 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed.

RESULTS

Black MSM in Canada consistently report multiple forms of stigma and lack of community support contributing to an increased HIV burden. They experience discrimination based on their intersectional identities while accessing HIV preventative and treatment interventions. Available data demonstrate that Black MSM have higher HIV incidences than Black men who have sex with women (MSW) and White MSM, and low preexposure prophylaxis knowledge and HIV literacy. Black MSM experience significant disparities in HIV prevention and care knowledge, access, and use. Structural barriers, including anti-Black racism, homophobia, and xenophobia, are responsible for gaps in HIV prevention and care continuums, poor quality of care and linkage to HIV services, as well as a higher incidence of HIV.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the lack of targeted interventions, there is a clear need for interventions that reduce HIV diagnoses among Black MSM, increase access and reduce structural barriers that significantly affect the ability of Black MSM to engage with HIV prevention and care, and address provider's capacity for care and the structural barriers. These findings can inform future interventions, programming, and tools that may alleviate this HIV inequity.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043055.

Exploring Current Practice, Knowledge, and Challenges of Sexually Transmitted Infection/HIV Management and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Japanese Health Care Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Web Survey

We conducted a web-based survey targeting physicians in specialties of treating sexually transmitted infection (STI) and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients to understand the current STI/HIV care practices and their acceptability of and barriers to the prescription of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Japan. A descriptive analysis was used to summarize survey responses. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression were performed to identify factors associated with willingness to prescribe PrEP. Of 316 survey respondents, 57 were specialized in HIV, 90 STI/Urology/Proctology, 55 Obstetrics/Gynecology, and 114 General Practice/Internal Medicine/Dermatology. Proportion of HIV-specialized physicians who interview the patients about risk behaviors tended to be higher than other physician groups (84.2% vs. 54.8%, 47.3%, and 50.9%, respectively), and 53 - 75% of non-HIV-specialized physicians reported that they were incapable of making decisions on HIV medications. Higher PrEP knowledge enhanced the willingness to recommend and prescribe PrEP drugs (odds ratio: 2.31, 95% confidence interval: 1.30-4.10, p = 0.0044), and 45.4% physicians with no PrEP knowledge raised the concern of incapability to respond and manage when an individual is infected with HIV. Educational opportunities on management and prevention measures for both STI and HIV may encourage non-HIV-specialized physicians to be involved in HIV care and to enhance initiation of HIV tests and adoption of PrEP.

AC-2020-12-1420.R1 - HIV care providers' familiarity, concerns, and attitudes about HIV PrEP in Colombia: insights from the PrEP-Col-Study

In 2019, Colombia approved the combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Therefore, we conducted a situational analysis in HIV-care providers to identify barriers and facilitators for PrEP implementation. A survey was applied to a non-probabilistic sample of health care workers of HIV-specialized clinics. We examined PrEP awareness and familiarity, comfort with PrEP-related activities, perceived barriers for PrEP implementation, concerns, and attitudes. Poisson regressions assessed the relationship between these factors and the variable "having a plan to offer PrEP". The participation rate was 41% and included physicians (42.6%) and other health professionals (57.4%). Fifty-one percent of the participants reported more than five years of experience caring for people living with HIV. Forty-two percent of non-physician health care workers were nurses. Most reported high familiarity/comfort with PrEP-relevant activities. Concerns about PrEP were prevalent (> 50%) and included causing more harm than good, reducing condom use, medication non-adherence, drug resistance, and healthcare system barriers. Physicians had a plan to offer PrEP (72.2%) more often than other health professionals (52.6). Having a plan to offer PrEP was related to PrEP knowledge and comfort assessing sexual behavior and providing HIV counseling. Overall, about half of HIV-care providers seemed ready to offer PrEP and constitute an asset for PrEP implementation efforts in Colombia. PrEP awareness among non-physicians, PrEP concerns, and negative attitudes need to be addressed to enhance implementation.

Costs and Cost-Effectiveness of mCME Version 2.0: An SMS-Based Continuing Medical Education Program for HIV Clinicians in Vietnam

This cost analysis found that a mobile phone-based continuing medical education (mCME) intervention, involving daily text messages with links to relevant materials, for HIV clinicians in northern Vietnam was relatively low-cost and cost-effective, particularly for future nationwide models. Such mobile approaches to CME are worthy of attention in resource-constrained settings.

Background:

The Mobile Continuing Medical Education (mCME) 2.0 project was a randomized controlled trial that found that a 6-month text message-based CME intervention improved both the use of online medical training resources and medical knowledge among a cadre of HIV clinicians in Vietnam. This companion study analyzed intervention costs and cost-effectiveness.

Methods:

We conducted (1) a financial analysis based on costs incurred during the trial’s planning and implementation; (2) an economic analysis to consider resource utilization; and (3) cost-effectiveness analyses to estimate cost inputs relative to impact: increase in self-study (measured by visits to online courses) and increase in knowledge (measured by exam score improvement) (in 2016 US$). Finally, we estimated the economic cost of a 9-month national program and a 10-year scaled-up model (in 2021 US$).

Results:

The total financial cost of the intervention was US$49,552; the main cost drivers were personnel time (71.4%) and technology inputs (14.9%). The total economic cost was estimated at US$92,212, with the same key cost inputs (representing 77.7% and 8.0%, respectively, of total costs). The financial cost per 10% increase in accessing online courses was US$923, while the cost of improving knowledge, measured by a 10% improvement in mean exam score across the study population, was US$32,057 (US$605 per intervention clinician). The comparable total economic cost of each improvement, respectively, was US$1,770 and US$61,452 (US$1,159 per intervention clinician). A future 9-month national program was estimated to cost US$37,403, while the full 10-year scaled-up program was estimated at US$196,446.

Conclusions:

This analysis indicates that leveraging mobile technology could be a feasible way to provide distance learning to health professions across Vietnam at a relatively low cost. Given the need for practical ways to expand CME in resource-constrained regions of the world, this approach warrants further study and possible adoption.

Clinical Considerations in the Selection of Preexposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention in Canada

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, approximately 62,050 people were living with HIV in Canada in 2018, and of those, 13% were undiagnosed. Currently, no single strategy provides complete protection or is universally effective across all demographic groups at risk for HIV. However, HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is the newest HIV prevention strategy that shows promise. To date, two products have received an indication for PrEP by Health Canada: emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Truvada®; FTC/TDF) and emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (Descovy®; FTC/TAF). Despite the high efficacy of these PrEP intervention methods, access to PrEP in Canada remains low. Identifying and addressing barriers to PrEP access, especially in high-risk groups, are necessary to reduce HIV transmission in Canada. While guidelines published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) include FTC/TAF information, the efficacy of FTC/TAF for PrEP has not yet been considered in Canada's clinical practice guidelines. Thus, the current paper reviews data regarding the use of FTC/TDF and FTC/TAF for PrEP, which may be useful for Canadian healthcare providers when counseling and implementing HIV prevention methods. The authors highlight these data in relation to various at-risk populations and review ongoing clinical trials investigating novel PrEP agents. Overall, FTC/TDF PrEP is effective for many populations, including men who have sex with men, transgender women, heterosexuals with partners living with HIV, and people who use drugs. While there is fewer data reported on the efficacy of FTC/TAF to date, recent clinical trials have demonstrated noninferiority of FTC/TAF in comparison to FTC/TDF. Notably, as studies have shown that FTC/TAF maintains renal function and bone mineral density to a greater extent than FTC/TDF, FTC/TAF may be a safer option for patients experiencing renal and/or bone dysfunction, for those at risk of renal and bone complications, and for those who develop FTC/TDF-related adverse events.

Community perspectives on addressing and responding to HIV-testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) among African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) people in Ontario, Canada

BACKGROUND

The African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) population of Ontario, Canada is comprised of individuals with diverse ethnic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds and experiences; some of whom have resided in Canada for many generations, and others who have migrated in recent decades. Even though the ACB population represents less than 3.5% of the Canadian population, this group accounts for 21.7% of all new HIV infections. It is well-documented that ACB populations, compared to the general population, experience multi-level barriers to accessing appropriate and responsive HIV services. In this paper, we present qualitative findings on the ACB population's experiences with HIV-testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and obtain their perspectives on how to improve access.

METHODS

We conducted twelve Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), within a two-day World Café event and used socio-ecological framework and community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches to guide this work. We meaningfully engaged ACB community members in discussions to identify barriers and facilitators to HIV testing, PEP and PrEP and how these may be addressed. The FGDs were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis guided data interpretation. Credibility of data was established through data validation strategies such as external audit and peer-debriefing.

RESULTS

Our analyses revealed multi-level barriers that explain why ACB community members do not access HIV testing, PEP and PrEP. Fear, health beliefs, stigma and lack of information, were among the most frequently cited individual- and community-level barriers to care. Health system barriers included lack of provider awareness, issues related to cultural sensitivity and confidentiality, cost, and racism in the health care system. Participants identified multi-level strategies to address the HIV needs including community-based educational, health system and innovative inter-sectoral strategies.

CONCLUSION

CBPR, co-led by community members, is an important strategy for identifying the multi-level individual, interpersonal, community, institutional and structural factors that increase HIV vulnerability in ACB communities, notably anti-Black systemic racism. Study findings suggest the need for targeted community-based strategies and strategies aimed at reducing health system barriers to testing and care.

Scaling up access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): should nurses do the job?

Task sharing has been one of the most important enabling policies supporting the global expansion of access to HIV testing and treatment. The WHO public health approach, which relies on delivery of antiretroviral therapy (ART) by nurses, has enabled a trebling of the number of people receiving ART during the past decade. WHO recognises that HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can also be provided by nurses; however, many countries still do not have policies in place that support nurse provision of PrEP. In sub-Saharan Africa, most countries allow nurses to prescribe ART, but only a few countries have policies in place that allow nurses to prescribe PrEP. Nurse-led PrEP delivery is particularly low in the Asia-Pacific region, which has some of the world's fastest growing epidemics. Even in many high-income countries, PrEP scale-up has been limited because policies often require medical doctors or specialists to prescribe. Service providers in many countries are coming to realise that scaling up access to PrEP cannot be achieved by medical doctors alone, and nurse-led PrEP delivery can help to lay the groundwork for supporting uptake of other HIV prevention approaches that will become available in the future. Countries with policies that authorise nurses to prescribe ART could be early adopters and help to pave the way for wider adoption of nurse-led PrEP delivery.

Applying implementation science frameworks to identify factors that influence the intention of healthcare providers to offer PrEP care and advocate for PrEP in HIV clinics in Colombia: a cross-sectional study

Background

Few studies have used implementation science frameworks to identify determinants of PrEP prescription by healthcare providers. In this work, we developed and psychometrically examined a questionnaire using the theoretical domains framework (TDF) and the consolidated framework for implementation research (CFIR). We used this questionnaire to investigate what factors influence the intention of healthcare providers to offer PrEP care and advocate for PrEP.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study in 16 HIV healthcare organizations in Colombia. A 98-item questionnaire was administered online to 129 healthcare professionals. One hundred had complete data for this analysis. We used exploratory factor analysis to assess the psychometric properties of both frameworks, and multinomial regression analysis to evaluate the associations of the frameworks’ domains with two outcomes: (1) intention to offer PrEP care and (2) intention to advocate for PrEP impmentation.

Results

We found support for nine indices with good internal consistency, reflecting PrEP characteristics, attitudes towards population needs, concerns about the use of PrEP, concerns about the role of the healthcare systems, knowledge, beliefs about capabilities, professional role, social influence, and beliefs about consequences. Notably, only 57% of the participants were likely to have a plan to care for people in PrEP and 66.7% were likely to advocate for PrEP. The perception of the need for PrEP in populations, the value of PrEP as a practice, the influence of colleagues, and seeing PrEP care as a priority was related to being less likely to be unwilling to provide or advocate for PrEP care.

Conclusion

Our findings suggested the importance of multilevel strategies to increase the provision of PrEP care by healthcare providers including adquisition of new skills, training of PrEP champions, and strength the capacity of the health system.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s43058-022-00278-2.

Factors Influencing Clinicians' Willingness to Prescribe Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for Persons at High Risk of HIV in China: Cross-sectional Online Survey Study

Background

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV prevention measure. Clinicians play a crucial role in PrEP implementation, and their knowledge, attitudes, and career experience may affect their willingness to prescribe PrEP. However, little is known about the attitudes and willingness of clinicians to prescribe PrEP in countries without PrEP-specific guidelines.

Objective

We aimed to determine the factors associated with clinicians being willing to prescribe PrEP in China.

Methods

Between May and June 2019, we conducted an online cross-sectional survey of clinicians in 31 provinces across the six administrative regions in China on the WeChat smartphone app platform. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with willingness to prescribe PrEP.

Results

Overall, 777 HIV clinicians completed the survey. Most of the respondents had heard of PrEP (563/777, 72.5%), 31.9% (248/777) thought that PrEP was extremely effective for reducing the risk of HIV infection, and 47.2% (367/777) thought that it was necessary to provide PrEP to high-risk groups. After adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, and educational background of the clinicians, the following factors significantly increased the odds of the clinicians being willing to prescribe PrEP: having worked for more than 10 years, compared to 5 years or less (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.82, 95% CI 1.96-4.05); having treated more than 100 patients living with HIV per month, compared to 50 patients or fewer (aOR 4.16, 95% CI 2.85-6.08); and having heard of PrEP (aOR 7.32, 95% CI 4.88-10.97). Clinicians were less likely to be willing to prescribe PrEP if they were concerned about poor adherence to PrEP (aOR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50-0.88), the lack of PrEP clinical guidelines (aOR 0.47, 95% CI 0.32-0.70), and the lack of drug indications for PrEP (aOR 0.49, 95% CI 0.32-0.76).

Conclusions

About half of all clinicians surveyed were willing to prescribe PrEP, but most surveyed had a low understanding of PrEP. Lack of PrEP clinical guidelines, lack of drug indications, and less than 11 years of work experience were the main barriers to the surveyed clinicians’ willingness to prescribe PrEP. Development of PrEP clinical guidelines and drug indications, as well as increasing the availability of PrEP training, could help improve understanding of PrEP among clinicians and, thus, increase the number willing to prescribe PrEP.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Implementation for Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men: Implications for Social Work Practice

Social workers have been critical in the response to HIV from its inception, in HIV prevention, support, and advocacy for stigmatized populations including gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM). Recently, social workers have been tasked with working in an era of increasingly biomedicalized HIV prevention, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a safe and highly effective new prevention technology. However, disparities in PrEP access due to structural barriers, including lack of health insurance coverage, and complex decision-making pathways and processes of engagement present substantial challenges for PrEP implementation. Ensuring equitable access to resources and supporting informed decision making are paramount to social work values, yet scant published literature has considered PrEP social work intervention. This article draws on qualitative data from 29 GBM respondents to highlight gaps in PrEP decision-making support and access that may be amenable to social work intervention. Authors describe opportunities for individual, interpersonal, organizational, and structural social work interventions to address multilevel gaps in PrEP implementation. Findings illuminate the complexity of individual experiences and social discourses regarding PrEP and their impact on GBM and raise important issues for social workers to consider in working with GBM clients, service providers, and administrators.

Decentralizing PrEP delivery: Implementation and dissemination strategies to increase PrEP uptake among MSM in Toronto, Canada

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is traditionally prescribed by HIV specialist physicians. Given finite specialist resources, there is a need to scale up PrEP delivery by decentralizing services via other healthcare professionals. We aimed to assess the feasibility of delivering PrEP to men who have sex with men (MSM) through primary care physicians and sexual health clinic nurses. We piloted a multi-component, implementation and dissemination research program to increase provision of PrEP through primary care physicians and sexual health clinic nurses in Toronto, Canada. Community-based organizations (CBOs) provided prospective participants with information cards that contained links to an online module on engaging providers in a conversation about PrEP. In our patient-initiated continuing medical education (PICME) strategy, participants saw their family doctors and gave them the card, which also contained a link to a Continuing Medical Education module. In the nurse-led strategy, participants visited one of two participating clinics to obtain PrEP. We administered an optional online questionnaire to patients and providers at baseline and six months. CBOs distributed 3043 cards. At least 339 men accessed the online module and 196 completed baseline questionnaires. Most (55%) intended to visit nurses while 21% intended to consult their physicians. Among 45 men completing follow-up questionnaires at 6 months, 31% reported bringing cards to their physicians and obtaining PrEP through them; sexual health clinics delivered PrEP to 244 patients. Participants who went through the PICME approach reported no changes in relationships with their providers. Nurses showed fidelity to PrEP prescribing guidelines. Nurse-led PrEP and patient-initiated continuing medical education (PICME) for primary care physicians are feasible strategies to increase PrEP uptake. Nurse-led PrEP delivery was preferred by most patients.

Attitudes and Practices of a Sample of Nova Scotian Physicians for the Implementation of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

Introduction

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV prevention tool that requires the ongoing support of physicians to be accessible. Recently, Nova Scotia experienced a 100% increase in HIV diagnoses. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between physicians' support of PrEP, knowledge of PrEP, and PrEP prescribing history using the information-motivation-behavioral (IMB) skills model.

Methods

An online survey was distributed to physicians in Nova Scotia, Canada, and eighty physicians participated. Two exploratory factor analyses were conducted with items from the Support of PrEP scale and Knowledge of PrEP scale. A mediation analysis was conducted to assess if knowledge of PrEP mediated the relationship between support of PrEP and whether physicians have prescribed PrEP in the past.

Results

On average, physicians reported strong support for PrEP, and as support for PrEP increased so did knowledge of PrEP. Further, physicians who had prescribed PrEP demonstrated strong knowledge of PrEP and physicians who had not prescribed PrEP reported feeling neutral. The 95% bootstrap confidence interval indirect effect of Support for PrEP on prescription history did not include zero (B = 1.59, 95% BsCI [0.83, 3.57]) demonstrating that the effect of support for PrEP is mediated by knowledge of PrEP. The most commonly identified barrier to prescribing PrEP was the lack of drug coverage among patients.

Conclusion

The results of the mediation analysis support the IMB skills model regarding support for PrEP, Knowledge of PrEP, and having prescribed PrEP in the past. Our findings suggest that to improve PrEP uptake in Nova Scotia, educational interventions for physicians and universal coverage of the drug would be necessary.

Nurse-led PrEP-RN clinic: a prospective cohort study exploring task-Shifting HIV prevention to public health nurses

OBJECTIVE

To report the results of a nurse-led pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery service.

DESIGN

This was a prospective cohort study conducted from 5 August 2018 to 4 March 2020. It involved manual chart review to collect data. Variables were described using frequencies and percentages and analysed using χ2 testing. Those significant in bivariate analysis were retained and entered into a binary multiple logistic regression. Hierarchical modelling was used, and only significant factors were retained.

SETTING

This study occurred in an urban public health unit and community-based sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic in Ottawa, Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

Of all persons who were diagnosed with a bacterial STI in Ottawa and everyone who presented to our STI clinic during the study period, there were 347 patients who met our high-risk criteria for PrEP; these criteria included patients who newly presented with any of the following: HIV contacts, diagnosed with a bacterial STI or single use of HIV PEP. Further, eligibility could be determined based on clinical judgement. Patients who met the foregoing criteria were appropriate for PrEP-RN, while lower-risk patients were referred to elsewhere. Of the 347 patients who met our high-risk criteria, 47% accepted and 53% declined. Of those who accepted, 80% selected PrEP-registered nurse (RN).

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Uptake, acceptance, engagement and attrition factors of participants who obtained PrEP through PrEP-RN.

FINDINGS

69% of participants who were eligible attended their intake PrEP-RN visit. 66% were retained in care. Half of participants continued PrEP and half were lost to follow-up. We found no significant differences in the uptake, acceptance, engagement and attrition factors of participants who accessed PrEP-RN regarding reason for referral, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, annual income, education attainted, insurance status, if they have a primary care provider, presence or absence of depression or anxiety and evidence of newly acquired STI during the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurse-led PrEP is an appropriate strategy for PrEP delivery.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis makes it possible to better live one's sexuality and guide men who have sex with men towards a responsible approach to their health: a phenomenological qualitative study about primary motivations for PrEP

Background

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV is instrumental in the prevention of HIV for HIV-uninfected persons, by drastically reducing the risk of acquisition in the case of high-risk exposures. Despite its demonstrated efficacy, it remained under-prescribed in France until 2018. The principal aim of this study was to understand the motivations of Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) who started using PrEP in Montpellier, France.

Methods

A phenomenological study was undertaken, using semi-structured interviews with twelve participants attending the University Hospital of Montpellier for PrEP. Interviews were analysed by means of triangulation up to the point of theoretical saturation, using a semio-pragmatic method.

Results

Fear of HIV infection, personalised regular follow-up, and the wish to take care of one’s health were the primary motivational factors. PrEP allows for a better sexual life restoring a sense of freedom despite the risks of STI, deemed manageable by PrEPers. PrEP does not modify long-term risk-taking behaviours but helps them better live their own sexuality and guides them towards a responsible approach to sexuality. Unclear information on PrEP, delivered by their family doctor, public campaigns or the media, leads to misrepresentations or negative social representation, including within the MSM community, which may delay its implementation.

Conclusions

Fear of HIV infection and the benefits of regular medical follow-up to take care of one’s health were motivational factors of importance for the use of PrEP by MSM in this study. PrEP transforms all existential dimensions of their lived experience, improving sexual identity and happiness. There is a need to improve professional awareness of the effectiveness of PrEP and to develop a patient centered approach, to disseminate information more widely to the general public and among MSM to reduce stigmatisation.

Community-Based Participatory Approaches to Knowledge Translation: HIV Prevention Case Study of the Investigaytors Program

Approaches to knowledge translation (KT) that engage community stakeholders in the research cycle have been identified as particularly promising for addressing the "know-do" gap. Using the case study of a long-standing community-based participatory research (CBPR) project known as the "Investigaytors," this article describes the development and implementation of a KT intervention aimed at facilitating access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis for gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority men in British Columbia, Canada, through a publicly funded program. In doing so, we offer a model of CBPR for KT that is highly participatory, driven by community members, and centered around capacity building. We also present findings from a focus group with eight volunteer co-researchers to capture the perspectives of community members involved in the CBPR process and to evaluate the strengths and challenges associated with the use of a CBPR framework for KT. Findings from the focus group reveal how the inclusion of multiple perspectives from community, academic, and healthcare partners contributes to the perceived strength and credibility of the KT intervention opportunities for improving the CBPR process and how the CBPR process itself can be a form of integrated KT. This work has implications for future KT that deploys a CBPR framework, including an expanded understanding of reciprocity that can include benefits such as training and professional development, as well as introducing a novel approach to KT that is driven by community and integrates multiple perspectives. We conclude with reflections on implementing CBPR practices for KT in different settings.

Knowledge needs for implementing HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among primary care providers in a safety-net health system

Safety-net health systems are a primary source of care for socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals who may be eligible for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and are priority groups under the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative. Nevertheless, little evidence is available about barriers to PrEP implementation in safety-net settings. We aimed to assess the association between PrEP knowledge and prescribing practices, and to ascertain unmet knowledge needs to implement PrEP. In 2019, we surveyed primary care providers (PCPs) in a safety-net health system that serves an EHE priority jurisdiction located in North Texas. Our questionnaire ascertained self-reported prescribing practices, knowledge, and training needs related to PrEP. We used penalized logistic regression to estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% posterior limits (PL) for the association between provider self-rated knowledge of PrEP and PrEP prescribing. Our study population comprised 62 primary care providers, of whom 61% were female, 60% were non-Hispanic White, 76% were physicians (76%), 57% had ≥ 10 years of practice experience, 45% reported low self-rated PrEP knowledge, and 35% prescribed PrEP in the past year. Providers with low PrEP knowledge had 69% lower odds of prescribing PrEP within the past year (OR = 0.31, 95% PL: 0.12, 0.82). Eligibility for PrEP, side effects and adherence concerns were key unmet knowledge needs. Our findings suggest that low provider PrEP knowledge may be a barrier to PrEP prescribing among safety-net PCPs. Our results provide insight about specific educational needs of PCPs in a safety-net health system, which are amenable to educational intervention.

Factors associated with interest in and knowledge of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in the Region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada: Insights from the OutLook Study

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV-prevention tool for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), a group known to be disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. We aimed to identify sociodemographic, psychosocial, and health factors associated with awareness of PrEP or interest in PrEP among GBMSM in a mid-sized Canadian city, where PrEP availability is arguably more scarce compared to larger metropolitan regions. The OutLook Study was a comprehensive online survey of LGBTQ health and well-being that collected data from sexual minorities aged 16+ in the Region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Participants were cisgender MSM with an unknown or negative HIV status (n = 203). Bivariate logistic regression was performed to analyze factors associated with both awareness of PrEP and interest in PrEP. Multivariate logistic regression explored sexual behaviours in the past 12 months while controlling for sociodemographic and psychosocial variables. Increasing number of sexual partners (OR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.03–1.53) was significantly associated with interest in PrEP and lifetime experiences of homophobia remained significant from the bivariate model (ORs ranged from 1.11–1.12). Since GBMSM with low educational attainment were shown to have less knowledge about PrEP, educational campaigns could be targeted in high schools rather than colleges, universities, and trade schools. Prevention initiatives should be aimed at places where single or non-monogamous GBMSM frequent due to these men being disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. These findings provide insights for potential interventions targeting MSM from mid-sized cities.

Attitudes and Knowledge About Human Immunodeficiency Virus Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Brazilian Infectious Disease Physicians

The objective was to describe levels and predictors of knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to prescribe pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among Brazilian Infectious Disease (ID) Physicians. The design was a cross-sectional study. We collected information on demographics and attitudes/knowledge about PrEP using an anonymous electronic survey. Willingness to prescribe PrEP, fear of adherence issues, and concerns about risk compensation were addressed in three case vignettes that varied by a single characteristic (i.e., by gender identity, drug use, and socioeconomic status) randomly assigned to physicians. Three hundred seventy ID physicians responded to the survey. Although most identified as informed/well informed about PrEP (75%) and believed PrEP availability to be necessary (38%), concerns with adherence (49%), side effects (38%), risk compensation (28%), and increase in sexually transmitted infection incidence (38%) were raised. We found no statistically significant differences in willingness to prescribe PrEP and concerns around risk compensation across the three case vignettes. ID physicians who declared having a religion reported more concerns about risk compensation compared to those self-identified as atheists (72% vs. 46%, p < .001). Most Brazilian ID physicians reported a positive attitude toward PrEP. Patients' gender identity, drug use, and socioeconomic status were not associated with willingness to prescribe PrEP. However, ID physicians who declared having a religion were more frequently concerned about risk compensation among PrEP users, suggesting that personal beliefs can influence PrEP implementation.

Student Education About Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Varies Between Regions of the United States

BACKGROUND

Daily, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective and safe prevention strategy for people at risk for HIV. However, prescription of PrEP has been limited for patients at the highest risk. Disparities in PrEP prescription are pronounced among racial and gender minority patients. A significant body of literature indicates that practicing healthcare providers have little awareness and knowledge of PrEP. Very little work has investigated the education about PrEP among health professionals in training.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to compare health professions students' awareness of PrEP and education about PrEP between regions of the US, and to determine if correlations between regional HIV incidence and PrEP use were present.

DESIGN

Survey study.

PARTICIPANTS

A cross-sectional sample of health professions students (N = 1859) representing future prescribers (MD, DO, PA), pharmacists, and nurses in the US.

KEY RESULTS

Overall, 83.4% of students were aware of PrEP, but only 62.2% of fourth-year students indicated they had been taught about PrEP at any time during their training. Education about PrEP was most comprehensive in the Northeastern US, the area with the highest PrEP to need ratio (4.7). In all regions, transgender patients and heterosexual men and women were least likely to be presented in education as PrEP candidates, and men who have sex with men were the most frequently presented.

CONCLUSIONS

There are marked differences in education regarding PrEP both between academic programs and regions of the USA.

Trends in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake in Ontario, Canada, and impact of policy changes: a population-based analysis of projected pharmacy data (2015-2018)

Objectives

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a proven tool for HIV prevention, but PrEP use in Ontario, Canada, and the effects of recent policies are unknown. We estimated the number and characteristics of PrEP users in Ontario and evaluated the impacts of policy changes between July 2015 and June 2018.

Methods

We obtained tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) dispensation data for Ontario from IQVIA, and applied an algorithm to identify use for PrEP. We report prevalent PrEP use for the second quarter of 2018 according to age, sex, region, prescriber specialty, and payer type, and generate “PrEP-to-need ratios” (PNR) by dividing these numbers by the estimated numbers of new HIV diagnoses. We used interventional autoregressive integrated moving average models to examine the impact of three policy changes on PrEP use: Health Canada approval (February 2016), availability of generic TDF/FTC and partial public drug coverage (September 2017), and public drug coverage for individuals aged < 25 years (January 2018).

Results

The estimated number of individuals receiving PrEP increased 713%, from 374 in 2015 Q3 to 3041 in 2018 Q2. Among PrEP users in 2018 Q2, 97.5% were male, 60.4% were < 40 years, 67.7% obtained PrEP from a family physician, 77.2% used private insurance, and 67.0% were in Toronto. PNRs were highest in 30–39-year-olds, males, Toronto and the Central East and West regions. Time series analyses found that Health Canada approval (p = 0.0001) and introducing generics/partial public drug coverage (p = 0.002) led to significantly increased use.

Conclusions

PrEP use has risen in Ontario in association with favourable policy changes, but remains far below guideline recommendations.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.17269/s41997-020-00332-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Assessing the Potential for Nurse-Led HIV Pre- and Postexposure Prophylaxis in Ontario

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

HIV prevention efforts in Ontario require increased implementation of strategies including post- and pre-exposure prophylaxis. Access to these interventions could be improved by their provision through nurse-led models of care. We assessed nurses' readiness to deliver these interventions using a behavioral change framework.

METHODS

We distributed an online survey to nurses in every Ontario sexual health clinic, HIV clinic, and community health center between March-June 2018, to determine the level of support for nurse-led postexposure prophylaxis/pre-exposure prophylaxis; we also explored nurses' "capabilities," "opportunities," and "motivations" for providing postexposure prophylaxis/pre-exposure prophylaxis.

RESULTS

Overall, 72.7% of respondents supported implementation of both nurse-led postexposure prophylaxis and pre-exposure prophylaxis. More experienced nurses were less likely to support nurse-led postexposure prophylaxis and pre-exposure prophylaxis (adjusted odds ratio = 0.55 per decade nursing, 95% confidence interval (0.37, 0.82)). Nurses reported a high degree of knowledge of topics related to postexposure prophylaxis/pre-exposure prophylaxis, with the exception of creatinine interpretation.

CONCLUSIONS

Ontario nurses report high levels of support for nurse-led postexposure prophylaxis and pre-exposure prophylaxis and are well positioned to provide these interventions. Targeted education and implementation efforts are needed to engage these nurses in postexposure prophylaxis and pre-exposure prophylaxis delivery.

Active-Offer Nurse-Led PrEP (PrEP-RN) Referrals: Analysis of Uptake Rates and Reasons for Declining

While pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV prevention strategy, its uptake is limited. To address barriers, we piloted a nurse-led PrEP clinic in an STI clinic and had public health nurses refer patients during STI follow-up. We recorded the number of PrEP offers and declines and clinic uptake. We conducted a thematic analysis of patients’ responses from nursing notes written at the time patients declined PrEP. From August 6, 2018 to August 5, 2019, nurses offered a PrEP referral to 261 patients who met our criteria; only 47.5% accepted. Qualitative analysis identified four themes: (1) perceptions of risk, (2) lack of interest, (3) inability to manage, and (4) concerns about PrEP. Our patients did not feel sufficiently at-risk for HIV to use PrEP and maintained that PrEP was for a reckless “other”. This analysis sheds light on how assumptions about risk affect PrEP uptake, particularly among those at-risk for HIV.

[Care providers' knowledge and willingness to prescribe pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)]

Introduction

la réduction de l'incidence de nouvelles infections liées au VIH est un objectif de santé publique. L’objectif de l’étude était d’évaluer la connaissance et volonté de prescrire la PrEP à Kinshasa.

Méthodes

il s’agit d’une étude transversale à visée analytique auprès des prestataires de soins de 4 structures de prise en charge de VIH/SIDA de la ville de Kinshasa d’avril à octobre 2017. Les analyses univariées et multivariées par régression logistique ont été effectuées pour identifier les facteurs associés à la connaissance et la volonté de prescrire la PrEP.

Résultats

quatre-vingt-cinq prestataires ont répondu à l’enquête. Moins du quart des prestataires connaissaient la PrEP avant l’enquête et la moitié avait la volonté de la prescrire. La barrière à cet acte évoquée était la résistance (83%). Les facteurs associés à la connaissance de la PrEP étaient la spécialité d’infectiologie et l’expertise en VIH. Les facteurs associés à la volonté de prescrire la PrEP étaient l’âge supérieur à 40 ans, la spécialité d’infectiologie et l’expertise en VIH.

Conclusion

la connaissance de la PrEP à Kinshasa était faible et seule la moitié des prestataires était disposée à la prescrire. Etre médecin infectiologue et expert en VIH était associé à la connaissance et la volonté de prescrire. Les futurs programmes d'éducation devraient renforcer la connaissance sur la PrEP et aborder les préoccupations identifiées dont les barrières à la prescription.

Physicians' preparedness for pre-exposure prophylaxis: results of an online survey in Belgium

Background Physicians have a crucial role in the implementation and scale up of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The objective of this study is to examine Belgian physicians' PrEP knowledge, concerns, acceptance and their willingness to prescribe PrEP.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between March and June 2016. Dissemination targeted Belgian primary care physicians (PCPs) and HIV specialists. Sociodemographic characteristics, experience with HIV and PrEP, self-assessed PrEP knowledge, concerns about PrEP, and PrEP acceptance were stratified according to professional background. Associations with willingness to prescribe PrEP were examined using univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

In total, 333 completed surveys were included in the analysis. Sixty-two physicians (18.6%) scored their knowledge of PrEP to be good, 263 (79.0%) had an accepting attitude towards PrEP and 198 (59.5%) were willing to prescribe PrEP if approved in Belgium. HIV specialists consistently reported having better knowledge of PrEP, less concerns and a more accepting attitude towards PrEP than PCPs. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, higher PrEP knowledge (OR 2.4; 95%CI: 1.0-5.7) and higher PrEP acceptance (OR: 3.8; 95%CI: 2.1-6.8) remained significantly associated with the willingness to prescribe PrEP.

CONCLUSIONS

HIV specialists are better prepared to provide PrEP than PCPs in Belgium. Interventions to improve PrEP knowledge and acceptance among all providers are needed. The role of PCPs could be very important in optimising the rollout of PrEP, but additional training and guidelines will be needed.

Attitudes and referral practices for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among HIV rapid testers and case managers in Philadelphia: A mixed methods study

Objective

Adoption of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection has been slow. The purpose of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and referral practices for PrEP among non-prescribing providers, who may play key role.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional survey on PrEP knowledge, attitudes, and referral practices among 66 non-prescribing HIV prevention providers (1st August to 31st December, 2016), in Philadelphia, followed by qualitative interviews with 12 of them (5th April to 10th May, 2017).

Results

Participants had a mean age of 36 years, with 62% females. Majority were HIV case managers and rapid testers. For half of the respondents, PrEP eligibility screening was part of rapid HIV testing at their organization, 40% never had PrEP training and only 27% indicated personally screening clients for eligibility. Qualitative data revealed that participants held positive attitudes about PrEP and perceived organizational support, but had concerns about potential negative impacts and barriers to routine HIV screening.

Conclusion

Results highlight the importance of training non-prescribing HIV prevention providers about PrEP, addressing their concerns, and incorporating PrEP screening and referral into routine HIV testing.

Response Rates of Medical Providers to Internet Surveys Regarding Their Adoption of Preexposure Prophylaxis for HIV: Methodological Implications

In 2016 to 2017, we surveyed primary care providers (PCPs) in upper Manhattan and the South Bronx, New York, on their knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV. Despite efforts to promote survey response, we were only able to obtain a meager response rate, limiting our ability to interpret results. In this short communication, we examine our survey’s methodology, as well as the methods used by other similar studies, in order to suggest how certain strategies appear to influence PCP response to PrEP surveys. Administering the survey in a variety of modes, sampling from a professional organization’s listserv, promoting the survey topic’s relevance to potential participants, and offering monetary incentives to each survey respondent all appear to be promising strategies for increasing response rates in PrEP provider surveys.

Evolving Toward Shared HIV Care Using the Champlain BASE eConsult Service

Background. Electronic consultation (eConsultation) is a potential strategy to improve access to specialist expertise and facilitate collaborative care models. The Champlain BASE eConsult service allows for asynchronous communication between primary care providers (PCP) and specialists on a secure, web-based system. HIV experts accessible include HIV physician specialists, HIV pharmacists, and social workers with expertise in HIV. Objective. This study aims to describe the use, value, and utility of this eConsultation service in the care of people living with HIV and to characterize the common question types and clinical topics asked by PCPs. Methods. We analyzed the data from eConsults sent to the HIV specialty group in Ontario’s Champlain Local Health Integration Network between February 2015 and December 2017. Usage data and close-out survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, eConsults were classified using a predefined list of validated taxonomy, and a thematic analysis was performed on the consultation logs to identify common clinical themes. Results. Among the 46 eConsults, the most common question type related to drug treatment (58.7%, n = 27) and management (19.6%, n = 9). The main clinical themes involved the care of significant complexities in people living with HIV, such as comorbidities and drug interactions, and suggestions of coordinated patient care. As well, eConsult was used for advice regarding pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV-negative patients at risk of HIV infection. PCPs highly valued the eConsult service (average rating 4.8/5). Conclusion. Overall, this study demonstrates that eConsult provides an efficient and valuable service to PCPs caring for patients living with or at risk for HIV by improving access to HIV specialists and facilitating the delivery of team-based comprehensive care.

A Cross-sectional Survey of Internal Medicine Resident Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviors, and Experiences Regarding Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Infection

BACKGROUND

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV is effective, yet many providers continue to lack knowledge and comfort in providing this intervention. It remains unclear whether internal medicine (IM) residents receive appropriate training in PrEP care and if this affects their future practices.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to evaluate the relationship between current IM residents' prior PrEP training and knowledge, comfort, and practice regarding the provision of PrEP.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

We created an online survey to assess IM residents' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to PrEP. The survey was distributed among five IM programs across the USA.

KEY RESULTS

We had a 35% response rate. Of 229 respondents, 96% (n = 220) had heard of PrEP but only 25% (n = 51) had received prior training and 11% (n = 24) had prescribed PrEP. Compared with those without, those with prior training reported good to excellent knowledge scores regarding PrEP (80% versus 33%, p < 0.001), more frequent prescribing (28% versus 7%, p = 0.001), and higher comfort levels with evaluating risk for HIV, educating patients, and monitoring aspects of PrEP (75% versus 26%, 56% versus 16%, and 47% versus 8%, respectively; all p values < 0.0001). While only 25% (n = 51) had received prior training, 75% (n = 103) of respondents reported that training all providers at their continuity clinic sites would improve implementation.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that prior training was associated with higher levels of self-reported PrEP knowledge, comfort, and prescribing behaviors. Given the significant need for PrEP, IM residents should be trained to achieve adequate knowledge and comfort levels to prescribe it. This study demonstrates that providing appropriate PrEP training for IM residents may lead to an increase in the pool of graduating IM residents prescribing PrEP.

Primary Care Physician Attitudes and Intentions Toward the Use of HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in Adolescents in One Metropolitan Region

PURPOSE

Understanding the attitudes of physicians toward the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention among youth is critical to improving access to PrEP. We examined PrEP-related attitudes among physicians who provide primary care to 13- to 21-year-old adolescents.

METHODS

Individual, in-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 38 physicians from adolescent medicine, family practice, internal medicine/medicine-pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, and pediatrics who care for any adolescents younger than 18 years. Interviews assessed familiarity with PrEP, perceived benefits and barriers to providing PrEP to adolescents, facilitating factors for prescribing PrEP, and likelihood of recommending and prescribing PrEP to adolescents.

RESULTS

Mean age was 44.6 years (standard deviation 10.9). Fourteen physicians (37%) reported being somewhat or very familiar with PrEP. Perceived benefits of prescribing PrEP included decreased acquisition/rates of HIV, improved provision of sexual health services, and improved patient awareness of HIV risk. Barriers to PrEP were reported at the patient (e.g., lack of acceptability to patients), provider (e.g., concerns about patient adherence, safety/side effects, parents as a barrier to PrEP use), and system (e.g., high cost) levels. Facilitating factors for prescribing PrEP included low cost/coverage by insurance, physician education about PrEP, patient educational materials, and clinical guidelines for PrEP use in youth. A higher proportion of physicians reported being highly or somewhat likely to recommend (N = 16, 42%) than prescribe PrEP (N = 13, 34%).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study of primary care physician attitudes toward PrEP prescribing for adolescents, physicians identified numerous barriers to providing PrEP. Addressing these barriers may increase adolescents' access to PrEP.

Trends in Awareness and Use of HIV PrEP Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men who have Sex with Men in Vancouver, Canada 2012-2016

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) are at the highest risk for HIV infection in British Columbia (BC). Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been recently licensed but is currently not publicly funded in BC. Using respondent-driven sampling, we recruited a cohort of gbMSM to complete a computer-assisted self-interview with follow-up every 6 months. Stratified by HIV status, we examined trends in awareness of PrEP from 11/2012 to 02/2016 and factors associated with PrEP awareness. 732 participants responded to the PrEP awareness question. Awareness of PrEP among HIV-negative men increased from 18 to 80% (p < 0.0001 for trend); among HIV-positive men, awareness increased from 36 to 77% (p < 0.0001). PrEP awareness was associated with factors related to HIV risk including sero-adaptive strategies and sexual sensation seeking. Eight HIV-negative men reported using PrEP. Low PrEP uptake highlights that PrEP access should be expanded for at-risk gbMSM in BC.

Acceptability and tolerability of and adherence to HIV preexposure prophylaxis among Toronto gay and bisexual men: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Preexposure prophylaxis is efficacious at preventing HIV infection, but concerns persist about adherence and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We assessed preexposure prophylaxis acceptability, adherence and clinical outcomes in a pilot demonstration project.

METHODS

HIV-uninfected adult gay and bisexual men who scored 10 or higher on a validated HIV risk score (HIV Incidence Risk Index for MSM) and reported condomless receptive anal sex were sequentially enrolled into a 1-year open-label single-arm pilot study of daily oral therapy with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine in Toronto. The primary outcome was acceptability of preexposure prophylaxis. Secondary outcomes were preexposure prophylaxis adherence (4-d recall, pill count and dried blood spot analysis), HIV seroconversion, STIs and adverse events.

RESULTS

Of the 86 men screened, 52 were enrolled. Participants were mostly young (median age 33 yr [interquartile range (IQR) 28-37 yr) white (38 [73%]) gay (49 [94%]) men. Preexposure prophylaxis acceptability was high: all participants reported their experience as "good" or "very good." The median adherence rate was high, at 100% (IQR 95%-100%) by self-report and 96.9% (IQR 93.4%-98.4%) by pill count. Dried blood spot analysis suggested that doses were taken 4-7 days/week at 88.7% (173/195) of month 3-12 visits. No cases of HIV seroconversion occurred, but 25 participants (48%) experienced at least 1 bacterial STI, with incidence rates per 100 person-years of 32.8, 32.8, 8.2 and 8.2 for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and lymphogranuloma venereum, respectively. No adverse events led to discontinuation of prophylaxis, but the estimated glomerular filtration rate declined by 0.22 mL/min per month.

INTERPRETATION

Preexposure prophylaxis was associated with high adherence and acceptability and no HIV infections in this study. Frequent STIs and clinically unapparent toxic renal effects reinforce the need for ongoing vigilance.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials. gov, no. NCT02149888.

Decentralizing the delivery of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) through family physicians and sexual health clinic nurses: a dissemination and implementation study protocol

BACKGROUND

Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) in Canada continue to experience high rates of incident HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP, the regular use of anti-HIV medication) reduces HIV acquisition and could reduce incidence. However, there are too few physicians with expertise in HIV care to meet the projected demand for PrEP. To meet demand and achieve greater public health impact, PrEP delivery could be 'decentralized' by incorporating it into front-line prevention services provided by family physicians (FPs) and sexual health clinic nurses.

METHODS

This PrEP decentralization project will use two strategies. The first is an innovative knowledge dissemination approach called 'Patient-Initiated CME' (PICME), which aims to empower individuals to connect their family doctors with online, evidence-based, continuing medical education (CME) on PrEP. After learning about the project through community agencies or social/sexual networking applications, gbMSM interested in PrEP will use a uniquely coded card to access an online information module that includes coaching on how to discuss their HIV risk with their FP. They can provide their physician a link to the accredited CME module using the same card. The second strategy involves a pilot implementation program, in which gbMSM who do not have a FP may bring the card to designated sexual health clinics where trained nurses can deliver PrEP under a medical directive. These approaches will be evaluated through quantitative and qualitative methods, including: questionnaires administered to patients and physicians at baseline and at six months; focus groups with patients, FPs, and sexual health clinic staff; and review of sexual health clinic charts. The primary objective is to quantify the uptake of PrEP achieved using each decentralization strategy. Secondary objectives include a) characterizing barriers and facilitators to PrEP uptake for each strategy, b) assessing fidelity to core components of PrEP delivery within each strategy, c) measuring patient-reported outcomes including satisfaction with clinician-patient relationships, and d) conducting a preliminary costing analysis.

DISCUSSION

This study will assess the feasibility of a novel strategy for disseminating knowledge about evidence-based clinical interventions, and inform future strategies for scale-up of an underutilized HIV prevention tool.

Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention in Adolescents and Young Adults

Purpose of review

To review the literature about oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, with specific focus on adolescents.

Recent findings

Use of PrEP reduces new HIV infections among men who have sex with men, heterosexuals, and people who inject drugs. One combination antiretroviral medication is approved for PrEP in the U.S. for adults. Limited data suggest that PrEP is safe for use in youth, although declines in adherence to PrEP over time suggest the need for adherence interventions specifically targeting youth. Safety concerns related to PrEP include potential negative impacts on bone density and renal function, as well as potential increases in riskier sexual behaviors. The U.S. Public Health Service has published guidelines for PrEP use in adults.

Summary

Current data suggest that PrEP use is safe in adolescents; however, further research is needed on the potential impact of long-term PrEP use on bone density and kidney function.

A Simple Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Optimization Intervention for Health Care Providers Prescribing PrEP: Pilot Study

Background

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been shown to be highly effective for the prevention of HIV in clinical trials and demonstration projects, but PrEP uptake and adherence outside of these settings in the United States has been limited. Lack of knowledge and willingness of health care providers (HCPs) to prescribe PrEP is an important barrier to implementation.

Objective

The objective of this study was to describe and examine the feasibility and acceptability of a PrEP Optimization Intervention (PrEP-OI) targeted at HCPs. The ultimate purpose of this intervention was to increase PrEP uptake, adherence, and persistence among those at risk for HIV acquisition.

Methods

This intervention included the following: (1) a Web-based panel management tool called PrEP-Rx, which provides comprehensive HIV risk assessment, automates reminders for follow-up, and reports patients' history of PrEP use; and (2) centralized PrEP coordination by a clinical support staff member (ie, the PrEP coordinator) who can identify individuals at risk for HIV, provide medical insurance navigation, and support multiple HCPs. Feasibility was evaluated based on HCPs' ability to log in to PrEP-Rx and use it as needed. Acceptability was assessed via individual formative qualitative interviews with HCPs after 1 month of the intervention.

Results

The intervention was feasible and acceptable among HCPs (N=6). HCPs identified system-level barriers to PrEP provision, many of which can be addressed by this intervention. HCPs noted that the intervention improved their PrEP knowledge; increased ease of PrEP prescription; and was likely to improve patient engagement and retention in care, enhance communication with patients, and improve patient monitoring and follow-up.

Conclusions

Given the critical role HCPs serve in disseminating PrEP, we created an easy-to-use PrEP optimization intervention deemed feasible and acceptable to providers. Further research on this tool and its ability to impact the PrEP continuum of care is needed.

PrEP in Italy: The time may be ripe but who's paying the bill? A nationwide survey on physicians' attitudes towards using antiretrovirals to prevent HIV infection

Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of the oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with tenofovir (with or without emtricitabine) on preventing HIV-negative partners of HIV infected patients to become infected through sexual contacts. PrEP is already available in the United States and now is approved by European Medicine Agency. In this setting we would like to gauge physicians' knowledge, acquaintance with and attitude to include PrEP in their clinical practice. A cross sectional survey was conducted among Italian physicians expert on antiretroviral therapy. Out of 146 physicians, 35% of participants declared to be familiar with PrEP but only 46% of them believed that, currently, there are not enough reasons to make it available in Italy. 51% of physicians have already been attracted to prescribe it and 63.4% have been openly asked about PrEP. The main concerns noticed were: the risk of acquire other sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) (70% of physicians feared that PrEP could favor STDs spread), the potential harmful of PrEP if not adequately implemented and, especially the risk of possible side effects if not properly used. Nevertheless, 55.9% of participants believed that Health Authorities face an ethical obligation to make PrEP available as part of the strategies to protect from HIV transmission and half of the respondents asked for further researches to better define the role for PrEP. Attitudes regarding PrEP impact on Italian National Health Organization were also very interesting: 57.5% of participants did not believe that investing in PrEP would be an appropriate use of healthcare resources, while 70.6% affirmed that PrEP's financial coverage should not be funded by the Italian National System of Health (SSN). This survey showed a high awareness of PrEP potential among Italian physicians coupled with a great deal of skepticism about how and if implementing it in clinical practice.

Factors Related to Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Prescription by U.S. Primary Care Physicians

INTRODUCTION

Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) greatly reduces risk of HIV infection in HIV-negative individuals, use is not widespread enough to impact HIV incidence. Involvement of primary care physicians (PCPs) in PrEP prescription is essential, but previous research has shown low rates of prescription among PCPs. To identify targets for interventions, the information-motivation-behavioral skills model for PrEP discussion and prescription was tested in a ten-city sample of PCPs.

METHODS

PCPs from ZIP codes with high HIV incidence in ten U.S. cities (N=280, 52% male, 56% white) completed a survey online between July 2014 and May 2015. Information items assessed knowledge, motivation items evaluated attitudes, and behavioral skills items measured comfort with behaviors involved in prescribing PrEP. Providers indicated whether they had discussed PrEP with or prescribed PrEP to patients. Data were analyzed in 2015 and 2016.

RESULTS

One third of PCPs had discussed and 17% had prescribed PrEP. A structural equation model with good fit supported the information-motivation-behavioral skills model. Information and motivation predicted behavioral skills (b=0.35, 95% CI=0.13, 0.57; and b=0.31, 95% CI=0.14, 0.47, respectively). Behavioral skills predicted prescription (b=0.27, 95% CI=0.12, 0.42). Furthermore, behavioral skills mediated effects of information and motivation on prescription (b=0.10, 95% CI=0.03, 0.19; and b=0.08, 95% CI=0.03, 0.16, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The information-motivation-behavioral skills model can be applied to PCPs' PrEP discussion and prescription. Its constructs represent potential targets for PCP-directed interventions to increase PrEP use in high-risk populations.

PrEP Awareness, Familiarity, Comfort, and Prescribing Experience among US Primary Care Providers and HIV Specialists

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) was FDA approved in 2012, but uptake remains low. To characterize what would facilitate health care providers' increased PrEP prescribing, we conducted a 10-city, online survey of 525 primary care providers (PCPs) and HIV providers (HIVPs) to assess awareness, knowledge, and experience with prescribing PrEP; and, comfort with and barriers to PrEP-related activities. Fewer PCPs than HIVPs had heard of PrEP (76 vs 98%), felt familiar with prescribing PrEP (28 vs. 76%), or had prescribed it (17 vs. 64%). PCPs were less comfortable than HIVPs with PrEP-related activities such as discussing sexual activities (75 vs. 94%), testing for acute HIV (83 vs. 98%), or delivering a new HIV diagnosis (80 vs. 95%). PCPs most frequently identified limited knowledge about PrEP and concerns about insurance coverage as prescribing barriers. PCPs and HIVPs differ in needs that will facilitate their PrEP prescribing. Efforts to increase PrEP uptake will require interventions to increase the knowledge, comfort, and skills of providers to prescribe PrEP.

Values and Preferences on the Use of Oral Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention Among Multiple Populations: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is the use of antiretroviral drugs by HIV-negative people to prevent HIV infection. WHO released new guidelines in 2015 recommending PrEP for all populations at substantial risk of HIV infection. To prepare these guidelines, we conducted a systematic review of values and preferences among populations that might benefit from PrEP, women, heterosexual men, young women and adolescent girls, female sex workers, serodiscordant couples, transgender people and people who inject drugs, and among healthcare providers who may prescribe PrEP. A comprehensive search strategy reviewed three electronic databases of articles and HIV-related conference abstracts (January 1990-April 2015). Data abstraction used standardised forms to categorise by population groups and relevant themes. Of 3068 citations screened, 76 peer-reviewed articles and 28 conference abstracts were included. Geographic coverage was global. Most studies (N = 78) evaluated hypothetical use of PrEP, while 26 studies included individuals who actually took PrEP or placebo. Awareness of PrEP was low, but once participants were presented with information about PrEP, the majority said they would consider using it. Concerns about safety, side effects, cost and effectiveness were the most frequently cited barriers to use. There was little indication of risk compensation. Healthcare providers would consider prescribing PrEP, but need more information before doing so. Findings from a rapidly expanding evidence base suggest that the majority of populations most likely to benefit from PrEP feel positively towards it. These same populations would benefit from overcoming current implementation challenges with the shortest possible delay.

A Cross-Sectional Online Survey of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Adoption Among Primary Care Physicians

BACKGROUND

Among health care providers, prescription of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been low. Little is known specifically about primary care physicians (PCPs) with regard to PrEP awareness and adoption (i.e., prescription or referral), and factors associated with adoption.

OBJECTIVE

To assess PrEP awareness, PrEP adoption, and factors associated with adoption among PCPs.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional online survey conducted in April and May 2015.

RESPONDENTS

Members of a national professional organization for academic primary care physicians (n = 266).

MAIN MEASURES

PrEP awareness, PrEP adoption (ever prescribed or referred a patient for PrEP [yes/no]), provider and practice characteristics, and self-rated knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs associated with adoption.

KEY RESULTS

The survey response rate was 8.6 % (266/2093). Ninety-three percent of respondents reported prior awareness of PrEP. Of these, 34.9 % reported PrEP adoption. In multivariable analysis of provider and practice characteristics, compared with non-adopters, adopters were more likely to provide care to more than 50 HIV-positive patients (vs. 0, aOR = 6.82, 95 % CI 2.06-22.52). Compared with non-adopters, adopters were also more likely to report excellent, very good, or good self-rated PrEP knowledge (15.1 %, 33.7 %, 30.2 % vs. 2.5 %, 18.1 %, 23.8 %, respectively; p < 0.001) and to perceive PrEP as extremely safe (35.1 % vs. 10.7 %; p = 0.002). Compared with non-adopters, adopters were less likely to perceive PrEP as being moderately likely to increase risk behaviors ("risk compensation") (12.8 % vs. 28.8 %, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

While most respondents were aware of PrEP, only one-third of PrEP-aware PCPs reported adoption. Adopters were more likely to have experience providing HIV care and to perceive PrEP as extremely safe, and were less likely to perceive PrEP use as leading to risk compensation. To enhance PCP adoption of PrEP, educational efforts targeting PCPs without HIV care experience should be considered, as well as training those with HIV care experience to be PrEP "clinical champions". Concerns about safety and risk compensation must also be addressed.

The role of healthcare providers in the roll out of preexposure prophylaxis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review the most recent studies assessing the preparedness of healthcare practitioners to provide anti-HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and suggest areas for future implementation research.

RECENT FINDINGS

As PrEP is a biobehavioral intervention, healthcare providers are likely to play a critical role in implementing PrEP in care settings. Studies suggest that many specialized providers are aware of PrEP and support its provision as a public health intervention, though knowledge and acceptance are less among generalists. Therefore, utilization of PrEP by clinicians has been limited to a few early adopters. Concerns about the efficacy and long-term safety of PrEP, and perceived barriers to prescribing PrEP, could limit prescribing behaviors and intentions. Resistance to performing routine HIV risk assessments by clinicians is an additional barrier to implementing PrEP, although innovative tools to help clinicians routinely perform risk assessments, are being developed.

SUMMARY

Interventions are needed to engage a broader array of healthcare providers in PrEP provision. Utilizing a framework based on diffusion of innovation theory, this review proposes strategies that can be implemented and evaluated to increase PrEP prescribing by healthcare providers. If resources are invested in training clinicians to provide PrEP, then these stakeholders could enhance the use of PrEP as part of a prevention package by primary providers.

Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among US Air Force Health Care Providers

Providers are central to effective implementation of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Primary care providers (PCP) and infectious disease physicians (ID) in the US Air Force (USAF) participated in a cross-sectional survey regarding knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs toward HIV PrEP. Characteristics associated with PrEP knowledge were assessed in univariate and multivariate analyses.Among 403 (40% of 1015 providers) participants, 9% (PCP 383, ID 20) ever prescribed PrEP. In univariate analysis, years in practice, number of HIV-infected patients treated in the past 12 months, past prescription of antiretrovirals for HIV prevention, frequency of prescribing PrEP in the past 12 months, and ever being questioned by a patient about PrEP were associated with PrEP knowledge (P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, providers who had ever prescribed antiretrovirals to prevent HIV (AOR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.27-4.42) had greater odds of high PrEP knowledge. Despite concerns about medication side effects (overall 67%: PCP 68%, ID 85%) and prescribing PrEP without clear evidence (overall 60%: PCP 65%, ID 62%), 64% (PCP 65%, ID 85%) of participants indicated PrEP should be offered in the Military Health System and 68% (PCP 70%, ID 100%) disagreed with the statement that their patient population was not at risk for HIV infection.Successful PrEP implementation in the USAF will require continued education and training of primary care providers to improve knowledge and mitigate concerns about PrEP.

Adolescent Human Immunodeficiency Virus Care Providers' Attitudes Toward the Use of Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Youth

Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention is currently indicated for use in adults in the United States and may soon be indicated for minor adolescents. However, implementation of PrEP use among minors may present unique barriers. We conducted 15 individual, semi-structured interviews among US clinicians caring for HIV-infected and at-risk youth. The theory-driven interview guide assessed demographics, perceived role of oral PrEP in HIV prevention among adolescents, perceived barriers to and facilitating factors for use of PrEP in adolescents, and clinician-reported likelihood of prescribing PrEP. Transcripts were analyzed using framework analysis. Overall, clinicians viewed PrEP as a time-limited intervention that is one part of a comprehensive approach to HIV prevention among adolescents. Perceived barriers to prescribing to minors included concerns about: confidentiality, legality of minors consenting to PrEP without parental involvement, ability of minors to understand the risks/benefits of PrEP, the possible impact of PrEP on bone accrual, off-label use of PrEP medication in minors, and the high costs associated with PrEP use. Clinician-reported facilitating factors for prescribing PrEP to youth included educating communities and other clinicians about PrEP, ensuring adequate financial resources and infrastructure for delivering PrEP, developing formal guidance on effective behavioral interventions that should be delivered with PrEP, and gaining personal experience with prescribing PrEP. Clinicians indicated greater comfort with prescribing PrEP to adults versus minors. For PrEP to become more widely available to youth at risk for HIV infection, barriers that are unique to PrEP use in minors must be addressed.

Antiretrovirals for primary HIV prevention: the current status of pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis

In light of the 2 million HIV infections that occur globally each year, there is a need to optimize strategies that integrate biomedical and behavioral approaches to HIV prevention. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) immediately after acute high-risk exposures and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for those who engage in recurrent high-risk behaviors are promising bio-behavioral approaches to decreasing HIV transmission. Guidelines have recommended PEP for occupational and non-occupational exposures for over 15 years, but uptake of PEP has been limited, partly as a result of insufficient awareness of this intervention among persons at highest risk for acquiring HIV. However, since the publication of large randomized clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of PrEP, and the dissemination of guidelines endorsing its use, there is a renewed focus on bio-behavioral prevention. Numerous studies have recently assessed the acceptability of bio-behavioral prevention programs among diverse populations or described experiences implementing these programs in "real-world" settings. As research and clinical data informing optimal utilization of PEP and PrEP are rapidly accumulating, this review provides a timely summary of recent progress in bio-behavioral prevention. By contextualizing the most noteworthy recent findings regarding PEP and PrEP, this review seeks to inform the successful implementation of these promising prevention approaches.

The preexposure prophylaxis revolution; from clinical trials to programmatic implementation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

An investment in preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery must have public health impact in reducing HIV infections. Sustainable delivery of PrEP requires policy, integration of services, and synergy with other existing HIV prevention programs. This review discusses key policy and programmatic considerations for implementation and scale up of PrEP in Africa.

RECENT FINDINGS

PrEP delivery has been delayed by concerns about adherence and delivery in 'real world' settings. Demonstration projects and clinical service delivery models are providing evidence of PrEP effectiveness with an impact much higher than that found in randomized clinical trials. Data confirm that PrEP uptake, adherence, and retention has been high, more so by persons who perceive themselves at high risk for HIV infection, and PrEP is well tolerated. PrEP delivery is more than dispensation of a pill and programs should address other risk drivers, which differ by population. In Africa, barriers to PrEP uptake and adherence include stigma among MSM and low HIV risk perception among young women. Additional data have provided insight into optimal points of service delivery, provider training requirements and quality assurance needs. Of the 2 million new HIV infections in 2014, 70% were in Africa. PrEP use is not lifelong, and use limited to periods of risk may be both effective and cost-effective for the continent.

SUMMARY

HIV prevention programs should determine strategies to identify those at substantial risk for HIV infection, formulate and deliver PrEP in combination with interventions that target social drivers of HIV vulnerability specific to each population. Policy guidance for optimal combination of interventions and service delivery avenues, clinical protocols, health infrastructure requirements are required. Cost-effectiveness and efficiency data are essential for policy guidance to navigate ethical questions over use of antiretroviral therapy for HIV-negative individuals when treatment coverage has not been attained in many parts of Africa. Countries need to invest in purposeful advocacy at both local and global forums. Failure to implement PrEP will be a failure to protect future generations.

Acceptability of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Implementation Challenges Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in India: A Qualitative Investigation

This qualitative study explored the acceptability of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among MSM in India, and identified facilitators and barriers to future PrEP uptake. In 2014, we conducted 10 focus groups (n=61) among a purposive sample of diverse MSM recruited through community-based organizations in Chennai and Mumbai, and 10 key informant interviews with community leaders and health care providers. Participants' mean age was 26.1 years (SD 4.8); 62% completed secondary education, and 42% engaged in sex work. No focus group participants had heard of PrEP, but once explained, most reported they would likely use it. PrEP was alternately perceived as a 'back-up plan', a condom substitute, or a burden with concurrent condom use. Facilitators were potential for covert use, sex without condoms, and anxiety-less sex. Potential barriers emerged around stigma associated with PrEP use, fear of disclosures to one's family, wife, or male steady partner, and being labeled as HIV-positive or promiscuous by peers. Preferences emerged for intermittent rather than daily PrEP use, injectable PrEP, and free or subsidized access through community organizations or government hospitals. Key informants expressed additional concerns about risk compensation, non-adherence, and impact on ART availability for treatment. Demonstration projects are needed in India to support PrEP implementation tailored for at-risk MSM. Educational interventions for MSM should address concerns about PrEP effectiveness, side effects, and mitigate risk compensation. Community engagement may facilitate broad acceptability and challenge stigma around PrEP use. Importantly, provision of free or subsidized PrEP is necessary to making implementation feasible among low socioeconomic status MSM in India.

Preparing for pre-exposure prophylaxis: perceptions and readiness of Canadian pharmacists for the implementation of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV transmission but has the potential to cause harm if not used properly. Pharmacists are well-positioned to foster PrEP's efficacy but little is known whether they would endorse it as an HIV prevention tool. The objective of the study was to determine Canadian HIV pharmacists' support for PrEP and to identify current barriers to promoting PrEP. Canadian pharmacists with experience in HIV care were invited to complete an online survey about their experiences, opinions, and learning needs regarding PrEP from December 2012 to January 2013. Among the 59 surveys received, 48 met criteria for final analysis. Overall, 33 (69%) respondents would provide education positively supporting the use of PrEP and 26 (54%) believed Health Canada should approve PrEP for use in Canada. Familiarity with the concept of PrEP and practice characteristics examined did not appear to be significantly associated with support for PrEP in univariable analyses. The principal barriers to promoting PrEP included inadequate drug coverage and insufficient knowledge to educate others. Many Canadian HIV pharmacists would endorse PrEP for high-risk patients; however, wider dissemination of information and lower drug costs may be needed to make PrEP more widely promoted.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis for sexually-acquired HIV risk management: a review

Despite significant efforts, the rate of new HIV infections worldwide remains unacceptably high, highlighting the need for new HIV prevention strategies. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a new approach that involves the ongoing use of antiretroviral medications by HIV-negative individuals to reduce the risk of HIV infection. The use of daily tenofovir/emtricitabine as oral PrEP was found to be effective in multiple placebo-controlled clinical trials and approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States and the World Health Organization have both released guidelines recommending the offer of oral PrEP to high-risk populations. The scale-up of PrEP is underway, but several implementation questions remain unanswered. Demonstration projects and open-label extensions of placebo-controlled trials are ongoing and hope to contribute to our understanding of PrEP use and delivery outside the randomized controlled trial setting. Evidence is beginning to emerge from these open-label studies and will be critical for guiding PrEP scale-up. Outside of such studies, PrEP uptake has been slow and several client- and provider-related barriers are limiting uptake. Maximizing the public health impact of PrEP will require rollout to be combined with interventions to promote uptake, support adherence, and prevent increases in risk behavior. Additional PrEP strategies are currently under investigation in placebo-controlled clinical trials and may be available in the future.