Background: Although black cisgender women in Chicago continue to disproportionally account for new HIV diagnoses, few are on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We used concurrent mixed-methods to understand women's PrEP knowledge, attitudes, experience, and preferences in Chicago. Setting and Methods: We surveyed 370 HIV(−) cisgender women visiting a sexually transmitted infection clinic (n = 120) or emergency department (n = 250). Two focus groups were conducted with PrEP-naive women, and interviews were conducted with 7 PrEP-experienced women. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression, and qualitative data using thematic analysis. Results: Majority of women identified as black (83.0%) and had a regular source of health care (70.0%). In the past 6 months, 84.1% had vaginal or anal sex, most with inconsistent condom use (94.2%). Only 30.3% had heard of PrEP, but once explained, one-quarter considered starting PrEP, with protecting health (76.4%) and reducing HIV worry (58.1%) the most common reasons. Factors associated with considering PrEP included being Latina [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 3.30, 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.21 to 8.99)], recent sexually transmitted infection [aOR: 2.39, 95% CI: (1.25 to 4.59)], and higher belief in PrEP effectiveness [aOR: 1.85, 95% CI: (1.22 to 2.82)]. Most (81.1%) had concerns about taking PrEP with side effects a common concern. Qualitative themes aligned with survey results, revealing a disconnection from current PrEP marketing, need for community-level PrEP education/outreach, and importance of provider trust. Lessons Learned: Despite significant PrEP implementation work in Chicago, less than one-third of women in our study had heard of PrEP. Once informed, PrEP attitudes and interest were positive. Translating these results into interventions reflecting women's preferences and barriers is critical to increase PrEP uptake by cisgender women in Chicago and elsewhere.

Emergency Departments (EDs) have the potential to play a crucial role in HIV prevention by identifying and linking high-risk HIV-negative clients to preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care, but it is difficult to perform HIV risk assessment for all ED patients. We aimed to develop and implement an electronic risk score to identify ED patients who are potential candidates for PrEP. Using electronic medical record (EMR) data, we used logistic regression to model the outcome of PrEP eligibility. We converted the model into an electronic risk score and incorporated it into the EMR. The risk score is automatically calculated at triage. For patients whose risk score is above a given threshold, an automated electronic alert is sent to an HIV prevention counselor who performs real time HIV prevention counseling, risk assessment, and PrEP linkage as appropriate. The electronic risk score includes the following EMR variables: age, gender, gender of sexual partner, chief complaint, and positive test for sexually transmitted infection in the prior 6 months. A risk score ≥21 has specificity of 80.6% and sensitivity of 50%. In the first 5.5 months of implementation, the alert fired for 180 patients, 34.4% (62/180) of whom were women. Of the 51 patients who completed risk assessment, 68.6% (35/51) were interested in PrEP, 17.6% (9/51) scheduled a PrEP appointment, and 7.8% (4/51) successfully initiated PrEP. The measured number of successful PrEP initiations is likely an underestimate, as it does include patients who initiated PrEP with outside providers or referred acquaintances for PrEP care.

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PrEP is greater than 90% effective at preventing HIV infection, but many people who are vulnerable to HIV choose not to take PrEP. Among women, men who have sex with women (MSW) and men who have sex with men (MSM) who tested HIV negative in our emergency department, we assessed behavioral risk factors, self-perception of HIV risk, and interest in PrEP linkage. Women had lower odds of perceiving any HIV risk versus no risk compared to MSM (uOR=0.39, 95% CI 0.18–0.87), while Whites had greater odds of perceiving themselves as high risk compared to Blacks (aOR=0.35, 95% CI 0.13–0.99). Age and self-perception of risk were not associated with PrEP interest, but patients who were objectively classified as “at risk” had greater odds of interest in PrEP than those not at risk (p<0.01). Discordance between HIV risk self-perception and objective risk demonstrates the limitation of relying on patient self-referral for PrEP based on their own subjective risk perception.

BackgroundDue to the closure of surrounding city-run sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics, uninsured and underinsured patients living near an urban academic medical center have been relying on the Emergency Department (ED) for their sexual health needs. A novel Sexual Wellness Clinic (SWC) was created to provide comprehensive sexual healthcare and primary care linkage to patients presenting to the ED with STI complaints.MethodsSWC-eligible patients are identified at ED intake and undergo a Medical Screening Exam (MSE) by a triage physician before transport to clinic. Notable exceptions to the SWC are patients who are pregnant, younger than 18 years of age, victims of sexual assault, or deemed to require higher acuity care. Once at the SWC, patients undergo a complete history and physical examination, comprehensive STI testing, and, if indicated, empiric treatment as well as same-day initiation of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Social services within the clinic also assist in arranging primary care follow-up either at the medical center or an affiliated Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).ResultsDuring its initial 8 weeks, 28 patients were seen in the SWC; 35.6% were cis-female and 64.2% were cis-male. All female patients identified as women who have sex with men, 89% of male patients identified as men who exclusively have sex with women. Patient ages ranged from 18 to 55 with a mean age of 25. Overall, 17.8% of patients tested positive for gonorrhea; 7.1% tested positive for chlamydia, and 0% tested positive for syphilis. One new HIV diagnosis was identified. Same-day PrEP was initiated in 28.5% of patients of which 62.5% (n = 5) were female and 37.5% (n = 3) were male. SWC linked 79% of patients to primary care.ConclusionWe demonstrated the feasibility of this unique workflow bringing patients from the ED to a specialized sexual health clinic. The majority of patients visiting SWC identified as heterosexual men and women, which differs from other metropolitan STI clinics. Identifying these populations with untreated STIs and other HIV risk factors for targeted intervention is integral to local and national HIV elimination efforts.Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.