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PCPs frequently unaware of PrEP
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ATLANTA — Primary care clinicians frequently reported low awareness of pre-exposure prophylaxis, but once informed they often were interested in prescribing the treatment and pursuing education concerning its appropriate use, according to survey data presented at the CDC’s National HIV Prevention Conference.
“Though awareness of PrEP among primary care physicians isn't as high as we would like, it’s growing — which is promising news,” Dawn Smith, MD, MS, MPH, of the division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, CDC, told Infectious Disease News. “But with one-third of providers still unaware, we know that some of their patients who could benefit are still falling through the cracks.”
Dawn Smith
To determine PrEP awareness and support among clinicians, Smith and colleagues conducted surveys of approximately 1,500 physicians and nurse practitioners in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013. After determining awareness and knowledge of recommended practices, respondents were provided with data on PrEP indicating a 75% rate of estimated effectiveness. Care providers then were asked to indicate their willingness to prescribe PrEP to at-risk groups, and whether they supported the use of public funding for PrEP treatments.
The researchers reported low clinician awareness during 2009 (24%) and 2010 (29%), although these values increased in 2012 (49%) and 2013 (51%) after clinical trials reported the efficacy of these preventive treatments. Once provided with PrEP information, 92% of clinicians across all surveys reported a willingness to prescribe the treatment to at least one high-risk group. Support for public funding of PrEP ranged from as low as 53% in 2010 to as high as 63% in 2013. Survey data from 2012 and 2013 indicated mixed knowledge on recommended PrEP providing practices, and education topics most often requested by respondents included those concerning PrEP indications (73%), side-effect management (59%), risk-reduction counseling (57%), adherence counseling (53%), sexual history collection (49%) and billing for PrEP-related care (48%).
“We know that PrEP can dramatically reduce the risk for HIV infection. Now we need to ensure that every health care provider knows about PrEP and can counsel their patients at-risk appropriately,” Smith said. – by Dave Muoio
Reference:
Smith D, et al. Abstract 1686. Presented at: National HIV Prevention Conference; Dec. 6-9, 2015; Atlanta.
Disclosure: Smith and colleagues report no relevant financial disclosures.