Knowledge and Attitude About Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Primary Care Clinicians at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Central Texas: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention is a highly effective tool in preventing HIV, yet PrEP is underprescribed. Primary care providers are ideally positioned to increase access to and awareness of PrEP, but health care providers' knowledge of PrEP greatly varies. To evaluate PrEP knowledge and attitudes of primary care providers, we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study examining primary providers' knowledge and concerns about PrEP. Participants (n 5 122) included physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and residency trainees in family medicine, internal medicine, and obstetrics. Despite high awareness of PrEP among these primary care providers (91.7%), fewer reported feeling comfortable prescribing PrEP (62.5%), and the average number of PrEP prescriptions per provider written in the last 6 months was less than 1. PrEP remains key to preventing HIV, but prescriptions remain low. Health care providers would benefit from additional education and training on communicating with their patients about sexual health and HIV prevention.

EquiPrEP: An implementation science protocol for promoting equitable access and uptake of long-acting injectable HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (LAI-PrEP)

“…Deep inequalities in prescriptions of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention exist across racial, ethnic, gender and sexual minority groups in the United States (US) [1][2][3]. Those who are most represented in HIV prevention PrEP care are not from populations currently experiencing the highest rates of incident HIV infection.…”

“…Importantly, structural and institutional barriers—such as inadequate insurance coverage and a dearth of providers competent in the care of racially, sexually, and gender diverse people—have contributed to the exclusion of these groups in PrEP care and HIV prevention. Ultimately, without a focus on equity in the rollout and implementation of oral PrEP programs, immense barriers were created that have contributed to disparities in PrEP awareness, PrEP discussions with health providers, and PrEP prescriptions [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 8 ].…”