Actionable items for increasing PrEP uptake:
We recently published results on provider experiences with our PrEP-OI intervention: “You can’t have a PrEP program without a PrEP Coordinator”.
Providers reported feeling more confident prescribing PrEP knowing that the PrEP Coordinator has more time to talk to patients, provide PrEP counseling, and track quarterly follow-ups. Here are some actions you can take now to increase PrEP use in your clinic:
1. Least time-consuming action for all providers:
- Universal offer of PrEP to all patients: “are you interested in hearing more about a pill that can prevent HIV?”
- If the patient says “yes,” please refer the patient to the PrEP Coordinator.
- If a patient reports stopping PrEP due to decreased exposure, inform them of the option of 2-1-1 or on-demand PrEP and PEP, and refer the patient to the PrEP Coordinator for 2-1-1 and PEP counseling.
2. Second least time-consuming action:
- When informing patients of positive STI test & during STI treatment, ask: “are you interested in hearing more about a pill that can prevent HIV?”
- If the patient says yes, please refer the patient to the PrEP Coordinator.
- If the patient says “no,” ask them again at their next visit.
3. More actions to increase PrEP use in your clinic:
- Optimize EHR by creating PrEP dot-phrases for sexual health risk screening & safer sex counseling, preventative care screening & healthcare maintenance, STI treatment, & after-visit summary to patient. Include the question: “are you interested in hearing more about a pill that can prevent HIV?” in your dot-phrase.
- Review STI registry to outreach for PrEP.
- Provide more staff and provider trainings on:
- Sexual health counseling with active listening & without judgment
- Health equity & social justice to highlight who is getting access to PrEP
- Implicit biases & how to offer PrEP to everyone
- Delegate a PrEP “captain” to help other providers with PrEP education and clinical consultations.