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Publication Profiles

Brief Report: “I Didn’t Really Have a Primary Care Provider Until I Got PrEP”: Patients’ Perspectives on HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis as a Gateway to Health Care

Citation

Sewell WC, Powell VE, Ball-Burack M, et al. Brief Report: “I Didn’t Really Have a Primary Care Provider Until I Got PrEP”: Patients’ Perspectives on HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis as a Gateway to Health Care. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2021;88(1):31-35. doi:10.1097/QAI.0000000000002719

Implementation stage:

Sustainment

Implementation outcomes reported:

Not applicable

Continuum target addressed:

PrEP initiation, PrEP adherence, PrEP persistence, Linkage to preventative care

Geography:

Suffolk County-MA

Study Participant Classification:

Recipients of care

Plain Language Objectives

The researchers asked people using HIV prevention medication whether starting and continuing PrEP affected their connection to primary care, preventive care, and other health services over time.

Plain Language Abstract

Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, prevents HIV, but routine PrEP visits may also help people connect with primary care. Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 25 PrEP users recruited through a Boston community health center and a social media group. All participants were men who have sex with men, their average age was 34, and 84% were White. Participants described PrEP as a reason to begin and continue visiting health services; for some, this relationship developed into broader primary care. They said providers’ knowledge and attitudes toward PrEP influenced whether they remained engaged. Participants also described gaining a stronger sense of control over their health. Quarterly PrEP visits helped some establish a relationship with a primary care provider and obtain care unrelated to HIV prevention. Because this was a small qualitative study, the findings represent these participants’ experiences rather than population-wide effects. The authors concluded that supportive, informed, and nonjudgmental providers may help extend PrEP’s benefits to broader preventive care.

Key Takeaways

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