Background: To investigate perceptions and attitude to prescribe Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) among HIV specialists.\r\nMethods: A questionnaire developed through a Focus Group and literature review was administered to a convenience\r\nsample of HIV specialists during educational courses in two Regions and an online survey in February-May 2012.\r\nParticipants were classified as having a positive or negative attitude according to their willingness to prescribe PrEP.\r\nDemographic and working information, experience with HIV-infected patients, information and provision of antiretrovirals\r\nto uninfected persons, self-reported knowledge, perceptions and concerns regarding PrEP were assessed. The association\r\nbetween a different attitude towards PrEP prescription and selected characteristics was assessed through univariate and\r\nmultivariate regression analysis.\r\nResults: Of 311 specialists, 70% would prescribe PrEP, mainly to serodiscordant partners (64%) but also to people at\r\nongoing, high risk of HIV infection (56%); 66% advocated public support of costs. A negative attitude towards PrEP was\r\nsignificantly associated with lack of provision of information on, and prescription of, antiretroviral post-exposure\r\nprophylaxis; specialists with a negative attitude believed behavioural interventions to be more effective than PrEP and\r\nwere more concerned about toxicity. Overall, 90% of specialists disagreed regarding a lack of time for engaging in\r\nprevention counselling and PrEP monitoring; 79% would welcome formal guidelines, while those with a negative attitude\r\ndid not consider this advisable.\r\nConclusions: Although conflicting attitudes appear evident, most specialists seem to be willing, with guidance from\r\nnormative bodies, to promote PrEP within multiple prevention strategies among vulnerable populations. More scientific\r\nevidence regarding effectiveness could overcome resistance.
Loading....