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. 2022;20(3):204-212.
doi: 10.2174/1570162X20666220426094920.

Perceptions on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Urgent Care Clinicians in the Southern United States

Charles M Burns  1 , Kyle Endres  2 , Laura Farrow  1 , Carl Mhina  3 , Alexandra Cooper  4 , Benjamin Silverberg  5 , Mehri S McKellar  1 , Nwora Lance Okeke  1
Affiliations

Perceptions on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Urgent Care Clinicians in the Southern United States

Charles M Burns et al. Curr HIV Res. 2022.

Abstract

Background: Underutilization of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the Southern United States (US) is well-documented. Urgent care (UC) centers are positioned as communityfacing access points to PrEP, but the feasibility of integrating PrEP services into this setting is unclear. We conducted a survey of UC clinicians in the Southern US to better understand their perceptions of the feasibility of providing PrEP in their practice setting.

Objective: The study aims to determine the feasibility and acceptability of providing PrEP services in the UC setting through a cross-sectional survey of UC clinicians.

Methods: We conducted a 48-item cross-sectional survey of UC clinicians in the Southern US, between July and September 2020. The survey was distributed through the Urgent Care Association (UCA) and American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine (AAUCM) professional listservs as well as directly to publicly listed e-mail addresses.

Results: Eighty-two clinicians responded to the survey. Most clinicians had familiarity with PrEP (97%). All respondents rated PrEP as an effective way to prevent HIV. However, less than half felt UC facilities were an appropriate place to prescribe PrEP. Few respondents (8%) expressed doubts that expansion of PrEP access would decrease the incidence of HIV in their community.

Conclusion: These findings show UC clinicians are familiar with PrEP, and many believe it would benefit their patients; however, provider opinions on the appropriateness of providing PrEP in the UC setting differ. Further studies on PrEP implementation in UC centers are needed.

Keywords: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis; PrEP; sexually transmitted infections; southern United States; survey; urgent care.

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Figures

Fig. (1)
Fig. (1)
Urgent Care Clinician Perceived PrEP Eligibility. Respondents could select multiple answers (N=73). A) Perceived Eligibility by Patient Groups. B) Perceived Eligibility by Clinical Situation. IV Intravenous, MSM Men who have sex with men, LGBTQIA lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual, PWH persons with HIV, STI sexually transmitted infection.
Fig. (2)
Fig. (2)
Reported Needs of Urgent Care Clinicians to Increase Comfort Caring for LGBTQIA Individuals. Respondents could select multiple answers (N=74). LGBTQIA lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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