Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Care for HIV Prevention.

Background: HIV continues to disproportionately affect men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective, but disparities persist. Limited studies have conducted systematic evaluations of social determinants of health (SDOH) and their effects on PrEP persistence among MSM.

From Treatment to Recovery: Gynecological Survivors' and Caregivers' Perspectives About the Usability of an Educational Resource.

The objective of this study was to understand gynecological cancer (GC) survivors' and their informal caregivers' perceptions about the usability of an educational resource to support their transition from primary cancer treatment into surveillance and/or recovery. After developing an empirical- and experiential-informed educational resource, we used a semi-structured questioning process to understand GC survivors and their caregivers' perceptions about its usability. Data were collected via online focus groups or 1:1 interviews that were audio recorded and transcribed.

A systematic review of users experiences of using digital interventions within psychosis: a thematic synthesis of qualitative research.

Purpose: Although the development of digital mental health support for people with psychosis has been increasing, the development and opportunities to access this have been more limited compared to other mental health conditions. Qualitative research exploring the experiences of using digital interventions amongst people with psychosis is even less well developed; however, such research is crucial in capturing the experiences of using digital interventions to ensure they are meeting the needs of people with psychosis. This paper aimed to synthesise qualitative data related to the experiences of people with psychosis who have used digital interventions.

High Rates of Missed HIV Testing Among Oral PrEP Users in the United States From 2018-2021: A National Assessment on Compliance With HIV Testing Recommendations of the CDC PrEP Guidelines.

Background: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends HIV testing every 3 months in oral PrEP users. We performed a national assessment of HIV testing compliance among oral PrEP users.

Methods: We analyzed 408 910 PrEP prescriptions issued to 39 809 PrEP users using a national insurance claims database that contained commercial and Medicaid claims.

Demonstrating the importance of interprofessional health education through an interactive case competition at Queen's Faculty of Health Sciences.

On March 4, 2021, OSLER Kingston and KHealth, student-run organizations at Queen's Faculty of Health Sciences, hosted a two-hour-long virtual interprofessional case competition called "OSLER x KHealth IPR Case Competition: Homelessness," focusing on housing insecurity and homelessness. This event demonstrated that integrating interprofessional education (IPE) competencies into educational experiences of health professional students is feasible to organize and implement while also being valuable. Students who participated found IPE to be helpful for their learning.

Assessment of Acceptability of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention Among Men Who Sex with Men and Transgender Community in Pakistan.

Objective: To assess the level of acceptability of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transwomen (TW) in Pakistan.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Online study portal from September to November 2021.

PrEP Persistence Support and Monitoring in Areas of High HIV Burden in the Midwestern United States.

Monitoring pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) metrics can guide service delivery yet does not occur routinely. We developed a survey to understand current practices for monitoring PrEP at PrEP-providing organizations in Illinois and Missouri. The survey was distributed from September through November 2020; 26 organizations participated.

Factors associated with suboptimal retention in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis care among men who have sex with men.

Despite the efficacy of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), retention in care in the United States remains suboptimal. The goal of this study was to explore factors that lead to suboptimal retention in PrEP care for men who have sex with men (MSM) in real-world clinical settings in the United States. Trained interviewers conducted semi-structured interviews with MSM (N = 49) from three clinics who had been engaged in PrEP care in the Midwest (n = 15), South (n = 15), and Northeast (n = 19) geographic regions and had experienced a lapse in PrEP use.

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Discontinuation During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in a Multisite Clinical Cohort in the United States.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to put strain on health systems in the United States, leading to significant shifts in the delivery of routine clinical services, including those offering HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We aimed to assess whether individuals discontinued PrEP use at higher rates during the COVID-19 pandemic and the extent to which disruptions to usual clinical care were mitigated through telehealth.

Methods: Using data from an ongoing prospective cohort of men who have sex with men (MSM) newly initiating PrEP in 3 mid-sized cities (n = 195), we calculated the rate of first-time discontinuation of PrEP use in the period before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the COVID-19 pandemic and compared these rates using incidence rate ratios (IRRs).

Projected Effects of Disruptions to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Prevention Services During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Among Black/African American Men Who Have Sex With Men in an Ending the HIV Epidemic Priority Jurisdiction.

Background: Disruptions in access to in-person human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) preventive care during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have a negative impact on our progress towards the Ending the HIV Epidemic goals in the United States.

Methods: We used an agent-based model to simulate HIV transmission among Black/African American men who have sex with men in Mississippi over 5 years to estimate how different reductions in access affected the number of undiagnosed HIV cases, new pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) starts, and HIV incidence.

Results: We found that each additional 25% decrease in HIV testing and PrEP initiation was associated with decrease of 20% in the number of cases diagnosed and 23% in the number of new PrEP starts, leading to a 15% increase in HIV incidence from 2020 to 2022.

Low Knowledge of HIV PrEP Within a Midwestern US Cohort of Persons who Inject Drugs.

We interviewed persons who inject drugs (PWID) to understand perceptions of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection. Knowledge of PrEP was poor. Patients felt that PrEP was for sexual intercourse rather than injection drug use, and PWID managed on medications for opioid use disorder felt that they had no need for PrEP.

Preferences for HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Products Among Black Women in the U.S.

In a nationwide sample of Black women in the U.S., we assessed preferences for HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) products, including long-acting injectable (LAI) PrEP and once-daily oral PrEP.

Pharmacy-Based Interventions to Increase Use of HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in the United States: A Scoping Review.

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) remains underutilized in the U.S. Since greater than 85% of PrEP prescriptions are filled at commercial pharmacies, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to increase PrEP use.

HIV PrEP is more than ART-lite: Longitudinal study of real-world PrEP services data identifies missing measures meaningful to HIV prevention programming.

Introduction: Evidence indicates HIV oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly efficacious and effective. Substantial early discontinuation rates are reported by many programs, which may be misconstrued as program failure. However, PrEP use may be non-continuous and still effective, since HIV risk fluctuates.

Same-day prescribing of daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective in reducing HIV transmission but remains underutilised globally. Same-day PrEP prescribing and medication provision is an emerging implementation approach. The experiences of the three same-day PrEP programmes support the feasibility of the approach.

Associations Among HIV Risk Perception, Sexual Health Efficacy, and Intent to Use PrEP Among Women: An Application of the Risk Perception Attitude Framework.

HIV risk perception is a known determinant of HIV prevention behaviors among vulnerable populations. Lesser known is the combined influence of risk perception and efficacy beliefs on PrEP use. We examined the associations between levels of risk perception and strength of efficacy beliefs on intent to use PrEP in a sample of adult Black and Latina women.

Validation of the HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Stigma Scale: Performance of Likert and Semantic Differential Scale Versions.

Stigma regarding HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is commonly implicated as a factor limiting the scale-up of this highly effective HIV prevention modality. To quantify and characterize PrEP stigma, we developed and validated a brief HIV PrEP Stigma Scale (HPSS) among a group of 279 men who have sex with men (MSM). Scale development was informed by a theoretical model to enhance content validity.