Who Will Use Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Why?: Understanding PrEP Awareness and Acceptability amongst Men Who Have Sex with Men in the UK – A Mixed Methods Study

Background In the United States, black men who have sex with men (BMSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can reduce HIV incidence. However, real-world implementation of PrEP outside of clinical trials has identified racial disparities in PrEP awareness, uptake, and adherence. In the context of a long history of medical mistrust and power imbalances between scientists and community members, strategies to increase uptake of PrEP among BMSM should consider ways to ensure messages address the needs and priorities of the community. Crowdsourcing contests shift traditional individual tasks to a large group and may enhance community engagement. Objective This paper describes the research protocol of a contest approach to soliciting PrEP promotion messages among BMSM in Baltimore. Methods Open-contest implementation and evaluation will proceed as follows: (1) organize a community steering group; (2) develop platforms to solicit crowd input; (3) engage the community to contribute ideas through a Web-based forum and in-person events; (4) evaluate contest entries using both community panel judge assessment and crowd voting; (5) utilize mixed methods to evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and community engagement; and (6) disseminate contest results. Results This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Mental Health: R34MH116725) in May 2018 and was approved by the institutional review board in April 2018. The open contest started in February 2019, and data analyses for the mixed method evaluation are expected to complete in December 2019. Conclusions The contest will potentially bring new ideas in developing more impactful and locally defined PrEP promotion campaigns. We will determine whether an open-contest approach is acceptable among BMSM in Baltimore. If successful, this study can inform future projects using a similar approach on how to identify and implement programs and policies that are more responsive to community needs and that build up community assets. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/15590

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A Crowdsourcing Open Contest to Design Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Promotion Messages: Protocol for an Exploratory Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.15590 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Jordan J White ◽

Allison Mathews ◽

Marcus P Henry ◽

Meghan B Moran ◽

Kathleen R Page ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mixed Methods ◽

Community Engagement ◽

The United States ◽

Medical Mistrust ◽

Community Assets ◽

Community Needs ◽

Group 2 ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Prep Awareness ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis

BACKGROUND In the United States, black men who have sex with men (BMSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can reduce HIV incidence. However, real-world implementation of PrEP outside of clinical trials has identified racial disparities in PrEP awareness, uptake, and adherence. In the context of a long history of medical mistrust and power imbalances between scientists and community members, strategies to increase uptake of PrEP among BMSM should consider ways to ensure messages address the needs and priorities of the community. Crowdsourcing contests shift traditional individual tasks to a large group and may enhance community engagement. OBJECTIVE This paper describes the research protocol of a contest approach to soliciting PrEP promotion messages among BMSM in Baltimore. METHODS Open-contest implementation and evaluation will proceed as follows: (1) organize a community steering group; (2) develop platforms to solicit crowd input; (3) engage the community to contribute ideas through a Web-based forum and in-person events; (4) evaluate contest entries using both community panel judge assessment and crowd voting; (5) utilize mixed methods to evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and community engagement; and (6) disseminate contest results. RESULTS This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Mental Health: R34MH116725) in May 2018 and was approved by the institutional review board in April 2018. The open contest started in February 2019, and data analyses for the mixed method evaluation are expected to complete in December 2019. CONCLUSIONS The contest will potentially bring new ideas in developing more impactful and locally defined PrEP promotion campaigns. We will determine whether an open-contest approach is acceptable among BMSM in Baltimore. If successful, this study can inform future projects using a similar approach on how to identify and implement programs and policies that are more responsive to community needs and that build up community assets. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/15590

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Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in a Sample of Italian Men Who Have SEX with MEN (MSM)

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094772 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4772

Author(s):

Gianluca Voglino ◽

Maria Rosaria Gualano ◽

Stefano Rousset ◽

Pietro Forghieri ◽

Isabella Fraire ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Immune Deficiency Syndrome ◽

Deficiency Syndrome ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Prep Awareness ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis ◽

The Cost ◽

Knowledge Attitudes And Practices

Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is suitable for high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infection risk people, foremost among whom are males who have sex with other males (MSM). This study evaluated knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding PrEP in a sample of Italian MSM, in order to hypothesize strategies to implement PrEP awareness and use. No previous study has assessed this issue; Methods: An online survey was given to an opportunistic sample of Italian MSM. The questionnaire investigated sexual behaviour and habits, HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) knowledge and PrEP awareness, attitudes and practices. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to identify factors associated with PrEP knowledge; Results: A total of 196 MSM participated in this survey. Overall data showed that 87.2% of participants knew what PrEP is, but only 7.5% have ever used it. The main reason for not using PrEP was the cost of the therapy (26.9%). The principal source of PrEP information was the Internet (68.4%). Being regularly tested for HIV was significantly associated with PrEP knowledge (adjusted odds ratio (AdjOR) = 3.16; confidence interval (CI) = 1.06–9.29); Conclusions: Knowledge regarding PrEP was well established, but PrEP use was not equally widespread. It is necessary to improve research on PrEP usage in order to PrEP access to be granted.

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Gay, Bisexual and other Men who have Sex with Men (GBMSM) remote mental health help-seeking during Covid-19

10.31234/osf.io/s76f5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jamie Frankis ◽

Dimitra Strongylou ◽

Ross Andrew Kincaid ◽

Ruth McKenna ◽

Lisa McDaid ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Mixed Methods Study ◽

Minority Status ◽

Behaviour Change Wheel ◽

Sequential Mixed Methods ◽

Sex With Men ◽

The Uk ◽

Severe Anxiety

Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) experience far worse mental health (MH) than wider society. This disparity was exacerbated by additional ‘unique to sexual minority status’ COVID-19 stressors. This sequential, mixed-methods study examined MH help-seeking among GBMSM in the UK and Ireland during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Quantitative survey data (n=1,368), analysed with logistic regression, suggested GBMSM experiencing moderate-to-severe anxiety and those with a past MH diagnosis were most likely to seek MH support. Thematic analysis of qualitative interview (n=18) data identified multiple barriers and enablers to GBMSM seeking MH help, who focused on GBMSM-facing organisations and population-wide online resources. Finally, the behaviour change wheel was used to generate theoretically informed recommendations to promote MH help-seeking among GBMSM in Scotland. We discuss how applying these recommendations in the short, medium and long term will begin to address GBMSM’s MH needs, post COVID-19.

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Consent for the use of human biological samples for biomedical research: a mixed methods study exploring the UK public's preferences

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2013-003022 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 3 (8) ◽

pp. e003022 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Celine Lewis ◽

Margaret Clotworthy ◽

Shona Hilton ◽

Caroline Magee ◽

Mark J Robertson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mixed Methods ◽

Biomedical Research ◽

Biological Samples ◽

Mixed Methods Study ◽

The Uk

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Pre-exposure prophylaxis' knowledge, attitudes, practices amongst italian men who have sex with men

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckab164.877 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽

Author(s):

G Voglino ◽

MR Gualano ◽

S Rousset ◽

F Bert ◽

R Siliquini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Behaviour ◽

Online Survey ◽

Healthcare Personnel ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Barriers To Access ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

High Infection ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Prep Awareness ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis

Abstract Background Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is suitable for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)high-infection-risk people, foremost amongst males who have sex with other males (MSM). This study evaluated knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding PrEP in a sample of Italian MSM, in order to hypothesize strategies to implement PrEP awareness and use. Methods An online survey was given to an opportunistic sample of Italian MSM. The questionnaire investigated sexual behaviour, knowledge on HIV and PrEP awareness, attitudes and practices. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to identify possible associations with PrEP knowledge. Results A total of 196 MSM completed the survey. Overall data showed very good HIV and safe sexual behaviour knowledge (94.4% of correct answers). Nevertheless, our sample rarely used PrEP because of existing barriers: high therapy price (26.9%)and fear of side effects (23.8%). Only 10.3% of partecipants were informed on HIV and PReP by institutional channels, even less (7.5%) from specialized physicians and general practitioners. The most significant association with PrEP knowledge was having regular HIV-tests (adjusted odds ratio (AdjOR) = 3.16; confidence interval (CI) = 1.06-9.29); Conclusions PreP's Knowledge was well established, but PrEP use was not widespread. It is necessary to improve communication on PrEP and to lower existing barriers in order to grant access to PrEP access. Key messages Barriers to access PrEP have to be lowered. Healthcare personnel has to be involved in PrEP's benefits communication.

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Mapping the Study Characteristics and Topics of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Research Literature: A Scoping Review

AIDS Education and Prevention ◽

10.1521/aeap.2019.31.6.505 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (6) ◽

pp. 505-522

Author(s):

Emiko Kamitani ◽

Yuko Mizuno ◽

Megan Wichser ◽

Adebukola H. Adegbite ◽

Julia B. DeLuca ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Black Women ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Intervention Studies ◽

Research Literature ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Research Areas ◽

Study Characteristics ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Prep Awareness ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis

Since WHO released the first PrEP guidance in 2012, the PrEP research literature has rapidly increased, but PrEP uptake is still low. To identify research gaps, this scoping review describes study characteristics, identifies populations, and maps study topics in PrEP publications. We identified 561 PrEP primary studies published in English between 2006 and 2018. The most commonly used study design was cross-sectional. Almost half of studies were conducted in non-U.S. countries and focused on men who have sex with men. We mapped study topics using five categories. The most studied category was Potential PrEP user/prescriber (41.3%) followed by Considerations while on PrEP (28.2%), PrEP efficacy and safety (20.9%), Cost-effectiveness or economic evaluation (5.2%), and Methods of and experiences with PrEP clinical trials (4.2%). Although the PrEP literature has dramatically increased, some research areas (e.g., PrEP awareness in non-U.S. countries, intervention studies to promote PrEP use) and populations (e.g., Black women) are still understudied.

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