scholarly journals Discrimination, HIV conspiracy theories and pre-exposure prophylaxis acceptability in gay men

Sexual Health ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 525
Author(s):  
Daniel Jolley ◽  
Rusi Jaspal
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Professional ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Mediation Analysis ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Health Screening ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Conspiracy Beliefs ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Background Combination prevention, which includes pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), is essential for achieving the zero HIV infections target in the UK by 2030. It is important to assess attitudes towards PrEP in at-risk populations. This study focuses on the effect of discrimination and HIV conspiracy theorising on attitudes towards PrEP in gay men in the UK. Methods: In total, 244 White British gay men completed a survey that included demographic questions and measures of sexual health screening, hypervigilance, sexual orientation discrimination, quality of contact with healthcare professionals, belief in conspiracy theories and attitudes towards PrEP. Data were analysed using multiple linear regression and mediation analysis. Results: Discrimination was positively correlated with HIV conspiracy beliefs and negatively correlated with PrEP acceptance. Mediation analyses demonstrated that the relationship between discrimination and attitudes towards PrEP was explained by HIV conspiracy theorising. Gay men who had attended a sexual health screening (vs never attended) reported higher belief in HIV conspiracy theories. A further mediation analysis showed that reported poor contact with a healthcare professional was associated with an increased belief in HIV conspiracy theories, which was associated with negative attitudes towards PrEP. Both perceived discrimination and poor contact with a healthcare professional were exacerbated by hypervigilance. Conclusions: HIV conspiracy theorising is an important variable in understanding attitudes towards PrEP among gay men. Its roots are in adverse social experiences (e.g. discrimination, poor contact with healthcare professionals) and its consequences may be the rejection of PrEP. HIV prevention and PrEP campaigns must focus on prejudice reduction and on challenging conspiracy beliefs.

‘What a skewed sense of values’: Discussing PreP in the British press

Sexualities ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 1343-1361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharif Mowlabocus
Keyword(s):  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Male Body ◽  
The Public ◽  
Moral Conduct ◽  
British Press ◽  
Wonder Drug ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

In this article I examine the public discussion of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the UK and investigate how this treatment and its key beneficiaries were framed by the British press between 2012 and 2016. Drawing upon an archive of articles published in national newspapers, I identify the discursive transformation that PrEP underwent during this period, as it moved from being a ‘wonder drug’ that benefited the health of the general population, to a ‘promiscuity pill’ that threatened the lives of the most vulnerable. I illustrate how this transformation was accompanied by a shift in the representation of gay men – who were almost universally positioned as the future beneficiaries of PrEP in the UK. Utilizing critical discourse analysis methods, I explore how gay men went from being ‘upstanding citizens’ to ‘dangerous outsiders’, and how the British press mapped older stereotypes of the diseased gay male body onto newer homonormative representations of the ‘good gay’ and the ‘evil queer’. This analysis reveals the precarious status gay men occupy in ‘post-equalities’ Britain – a status that requires adherence to a particular code of sexual and moral conduct, and the disavowal of long-term health inequalities.

Dementia timeline: Journeys, delays and decisions on the pathway to an early diagnosis

Dementia ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom A. C. Chrisp ◽  
Benjamin D. Thomas ◽  
Wayne A. Goddard ◽  
Andrea Owens
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Professional ◽  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Memory Assessment ◽  
Decision Points ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Uk ◽  
First Contact ◽  
Mean Time

Here we present the timeline for those who reach a memory assessment service based on research conducted with 31 people living with dementia and 49 carers in one area of the UK. The study develops the findings of earlier timeline work by illuminating other stages on the journey as events and decision points. Two key stages of delay are exposed. Firstly, the period from first thinking something may be amiss to the point of first talking to someone about it. Secondly, the period from first talking to someone, to first contact with a healthcare professional (HCP). A third period emerged where delays may occur once contact with the healthcare system is made. The mean journey time from thinking that something may be amiss to beginning the formal process of diagnosis was around three years. On average there is a gap of about a year between thinking something may be amiss and first talking to a friend or family member about the problem. Further, it typically takes just under two and a half years for a person to move from thinking something may be amiss to first contact with a healthcare professional. The mean time from first contact with a healthcare professional to arrival at a memory assessment service was around 35 weeks; however, for 90% of people it was eight weeks or less. Implications for policies that aim to bring forward diagnosis are that the largest potential for achieving earlier diagnosis will be from encouraging people to contact healthcare professionals earlier.

scholarly journals A social norms approach intervention to address misperceptions of anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs amongst UK parents

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0258985
Author(s):  
Darel Cookson ◽  
Daniel Jolley ◽  
Robert C. Dempsey ◽  
Rachel Povey
Keyword(s):  
Social Norms ◽  
Mediation Analysis ◽  
Feedback Condition ◽  
Potential Utility ◽  
Normative Feedback ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Personal Belief ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Conspiracy Beliefs

Anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs among parents can reduce vaccination intentions. Parents’ beliefs in anti-vaccine conspiracy theories are also related to their perceptions of other parents’ conspiracy beliefs. Further, research has shown that parents hold misperceptions of anti-vaccine conspiracy belief norms: UK parents over-estimate the anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs of other parents. The present study tested the effectiveness of a Social Norms Approach intervention, which corrects misperceptions using normative feedback, to reduce UK parents’ anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs and increase vaccination intentions. At baseline, 202 UK parents of young children reported their personal belief in anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, future intentions to vaccinate, and their perceptions of other UK parents’ beliefs and intentions. Participants were then randomly assigned to a normative feedback condition (n = 89) or an assessment-only control condition (n = 113). The normative feedback compared participants’ personal anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs and perceptions of other UK parents’ beliefs with actual normative belief levels. Parents receiving the normative feedback showed significantly reduced personal belief in anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs at immediate post-test. As hypothesised, changes in normative perceptions of anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs mediated the effect of the intervention. The intervention, did not directly increase vaccination intentions, however mediation analysis showed that the normative feedback increased perceptions of other parents’ vaccination intentions, which in turn increased personal vaccination intentions. No significant effects remained after a six-week follow-up. The current research demonstrates the potential utility of Social Norms Approach interventions for correcting misperceptions and reducing anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs among UK parents. Further research could explore utilising a top-up intervention to maintain the efficacy.

scholarly journals Evolution of a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) service in a community-located sexual health clinic: concise report of the PrEPxpress

Sexual Health ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolo Girometti ◽  
Sheena McCormack ◽  
Emma Devitt ◽  
Keerti Gedela ◽  
Nneka Nwokolo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Good Clinical Practice ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
Nurse Prescribing ◽  
Concise Report ◽  
Sexual Health Service ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Screening and treatment of sexually transmissible infections, including HIV, are free in the UK nations; pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) became free in England in October 2017 through the PrEP Impact trial. Doctor-led PrEP clinics started at 56 Dean Street in September 2015, with the drug purchased privately at full price. The service was expanded to other staff to support initiation and monitoring of increasing numbers of attendees purchasing PrEP from online pharmacies. Nonetheless, when the clinic was given a target of 1700 for the PrEP Impact trial, it was clear this could not be achieved in a timely manner through 56 Dean Street alone. To prepare for the trial, all staff with HIV testing competencies were trained in good clinical practice and trial-specific procedures, and a patient group directive was approved to facilitate nurse prescribing and dispensing. Electronic pro formas to capture eligibility for starting or continuing PrEP were adapted for the Dean Street Express clinic, with some information collected directly from service users using touch screens. These interventions, together with an update to the 2016 information leaflet developed by the community, enabled enrolment and follow-up of 1700 participants in 4 months. PrEP advice and monitoring were easily accommodated in the 56 Dean Street sexual health service, but did require additional training and approval for nurse prescribing and dispensing drug in order to achieve the target, which still fell short of the demand.

scholarly journals A Bioweapon or a Hoax? The Link Between Distinct Conspiracy Beliefs About the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak and Pandemic Behavior

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1110-1118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Imhoff ◽  
Pia Lamberty
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Nongovernmental Organizations ◽  
Infection Rate ◽  
Political Engagement ◽  
The United States ◽  
Biomedical Model ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Prescribing Behavior ◽  
Conspiracy Beliefs ◽  
The Uk

During the coronavirus disease pandemic rising in 2020, governments and nongovernmental organizations across the globe have taken great efforts to curb the infection rate by promoting or legally prescribing behavior that can reduce the spread of the virus. At the same time, this pandemic has given rise to speculations and conspiracy theories. Conspiracy worldviews have been connected to refusal to trust science, the biomedical model of disease, and legal means of political engagement in previous research. In three studies from the United States ( N = 220; N = 288) and the UK ( N = 298), we went beyond this focus on a general conspiracy worldview and tested the idea that different forms of conspiracy beliefs despite being positively correlated have distinct behavioral implications. Whereas conspiracy beliefs describing the pandemic as a hoax were more strongly associated with reduced containment-related behavior, conspiracy beliefs about sinister forces purposefully creating the virus related to an increase in self-centered prepping behavior.

scholarly journals HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Knowledge, Familiarity, and Attitudes among Healthcare Professional Students

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarahmona Przybyla ◽  
Jennifer Fillo ◽  
Kimberly Kamper-DeMarco ◽  
Kathleen Parks ◽  
Jacob Bleasdale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Professional ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Pharmacy Students ◽  
Academic Training ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Professional Students ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Abstract Background The federal government’s plan to End the HIV Epidemic by 2030 includes a primary goal to reduce new HIV infections by 90 percent. One key contributor to this plan is pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication taken by HIV-uninfected individuals to prevent infection. While knowledge and acceptance of PrEP among clinicians is growing, few studies have assessed knowledge and awareness among future healthcare professionals in academic training programs. Given the limited research on PrEP among healthcare professional students, a better understanding of knowledge and familiarity with PrEP prescription may inform the development of educational interventions targeting this population in an effort to increase implementation. The present study aimed to assess and compare healthcare trainees’ PrEP awareness, knowledge, and familiarity with prescription guidelines with a broad goal to better understand and prevent gaps in academic training regarding PrEP. Methods A cross-sectional web-based survey of medical, nurse practitioner, and pharmacy students enrolled at two universities was conducted between October 2017-January 2018. The study assessed participants’ awareness, knowledge, and familiarity with PrEP prescribing guidelines and willingness to prescribe PrEP and refer to another healthcare provider. Results The survey was completed by 744 participants (overall response rate = 36.2%). There were significant differences among student groups in all domains. Pharmacy students had the greatest PrEP knowledge, awareness, and familiarity with prescribing guidelines. However, medical students reported the greatest comfort with performing PrEP-related clinical activities and willingness to refer a candidate to another provider. Greater familiarity with PrEP prescription guidelines was associated with willingness to prescribe the medication. Conclusions Healthcare professional students’ responses enhance our understanding of the relevant experiences and perspectives of future healthcare providers that influence their knowledge towards the promotion of PrEP through prescription and referral intentions. The gaps in students’ knowledge offer opportunities for the development of educational strategies to support HIV prevention among future healthcare professionals.

scholarly journals Are COVID-19 conspiracies a threat to public health? Psychological characteristics and health protective behaviours of believers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Juanchich ◽  
Miroslav Sirota ◽  
Daniel Jolles ◽  
lilith whiley
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Psychological Characteristics ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
Conspiracy Beliefs ◽  
Mind Set ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Protective Behaviours

The fast-changing COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to many conspiracy theories, and these have the potential to undermine public health measures and safeguarding behaviours. We conducted three studies before and during the COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom (UK) (n = 302, 404 and 399) to (i) identify the prevalence of COVID-19 conspiracy theories in the UK, (ii) map their socio-psychological predictors, and (iii) investigate their association with health safeguarding behaviours. We found COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs were prevalent (25% of participants endorsed at least one) and predicted by beliefs in unrelated conspiracies, a conspiracy mind-set, distrust in governmental authorities, education, and cognitive reflection. Unexpectedly, COVID-19 conspiracy believers adhered to basic health guidelines both before and after the lockdown as strictly as non-believers (e.g., washing hands, social distancing) and adopted more advanced health protective behaviours not (yet) officially recommended in the UK (e.g., wearing a mask, washing groceries with soap). Conspiracy believers were also more reluctant to install the contact-tracing app, get tested for and vaccinated against COVID-19 because of the perceived risks associated with these procedures. We discuss psychological characteristics that explain the relationship between conspiracy beliefs and people’s behaviours and intentions, and suggest practical recommendations for public health initiatives.

scholarly journals Multiculturalism in Healthcare: A Review of Current Research into Diversity Found in the Healthcare Professional Population and the Patient Population

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 112-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Tan ◽  
Shuangyu Li
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Professional ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Culturally Competent ◽  
Barriers To Healthcare ◽  
The Uk ◽  
And Training ◽  
Improve Access ◽  
The Way

Culture plays a key role in the way health is perceived and the way healthcare is used. It has been seen that there are many barriers to accessing healthcare, particularly for those who come to the UK with a different background language, religion and healthcare structure. A literature review and content analysis has been performed using 60 articles, selected from the databases PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, in order to expose how diverse the patient and healthcare professional population truly are, the number of barriers to healthcare and how one can improve access to become culturally competent. Although this is only a small sample of the material present, it is evident that at the present time physical amenities such as having a translator present, as well the training of the healthcare professionals to be able to make the most of the situation and see the patients in a holistic and biopsychosocial approach, reveal an important area to focus more on in practice as well as in research. Thus an increased availability of resources and training needs to be made available for both patients and healthcare professionals in order to ensure competence in accessing healthcare services

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