Information About COVID-19 Testing on College Websites in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

The continuing COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the Fall reopening plans among institutions of higher education (IHEs) in the United States (U.S.). While recommendations were made to conduct COVID-19 testing of students and staff, it is unclear as to what extent IHEs were able to engage in testing. IHEs also play a critical role in provision of accurate information related to COVID-19 to students and staff. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess available information on COVID-19 testing on IHEs' websites in the New York City (NYC) metropolitan area. IHEs' websites were screened for the presence of content related to COVID-19 testing. Larger institutions (> 10,000 students) were more likely than smaller institutions (≤ 5000 students) to provide information on how to make an appointment for COVID-19 testing (χ2(2) = 8.1, P < 0.05), and information on free testing (χ2(2) = 7.0, P < 0.05). Of 150 IHEs included, 124 (82.7%) IHE's reported testing data to the campus community, with the majority providing this data biweekly (62.9%). A total of 116 IHEs recorded at least one positive COVID-19 case among their students or staff during the Fall semester. Smaller-sized institutions reported a significantly lower number of cases than medium- (P < 0.001) and large-sized (P = 0.003) institutions. Additional differences related to testing modalities and provision of information were observed according to schools' state jurisdictions. Although geographically close, IHEs in the NYC metropolitan area did not provide information on COVID-19 testing in a uniform and comprehensive fashion, which may further contribute to public confusion.

COVID-19 Vaccination and Intention to Vaccinate Among a Sample of College Students in New Jersey.

Vaccines are critical for curtailing the COVID-19 pandemic and may represent an important tool for return to "normalcy" on college campuses in the Fall of 2021. The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent of vaccination coverage and intention to vaccinate among college students. College students (N = 457) enrolled in the Spring 2021 semester at a university in New Jersey completed a cross-sectional survey. The survey collected information on demographics, COVID-19 and vaccination history, knowledge levels and sources of COVID-19 vaccine information, and vaccine attitudes. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with vaccination, and the intention to vaccinate among non-vaccinated students. Results indicate that 23% (n = 105) of participants reported being vaccinated already. Among non-vaccinated students, 52.8% indicated their intention to receive the vaccine when it is made available to college students. Students who were health care workers (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 4.17, p < 0.001), had a family member who had received a COVID-19 vaccine (aOR = 5.03, p < 0.001), exhibited greater positive attitudes regarding vaccination (aOR = 1.12, p < 0.001), and received a seasonal flu vaccine (aOR = 1.97, p < 0.05) were more likely to have received the COVID-19 vaccine. Among non-vaccinated students, those who discussed COVID-19 vaccine information with others (aOR = 5.38, p < 0.001), and exhibited more overall positive attitudes regarding vaccination (aOR = 2.69, p < 0.001), were more likely to indicate their willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Findings of this study highlight the need for additional education and vaccine outreach aimed at promoting uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine among college students.

Coverage of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Online Versions of Highly Circulated U.S. Daily Newspapers.

With the proliferation of news and the abundance of unknowns, COVID-19 information became rife with rumors and infiltrated consumers with confusion and information overload. In situations like this, it is important to provide consumers with credible and reliable information about the pandemic which is affecting their lives and livelihoods. Articles about coronavirus published in online versions of USA Today online, Wall Street Journal online and NYTimes.com between January and March 2020 were identified. Only articles where the search terms appeared in the headline were included as it was considered a more effective approach to understanding the health communication trends for this outbreak. These criteria resulted in 5,285 articles published on this topic during this time. All articles were imported into Dedoose mixed-methods software for thematic analysis. The frequency of each identified theme appearing in reviewed articles was counted, together with excerpts illustrating the specific theme. Overall, the five most common themes appearing in reviewed articles were "financial impact of COVID-19" (11.6%), "stories of affected individuals" (7.0%), "death and death rates" (6.8%), "precaution recommendations for public" (6.2%), and "quarantine" (5.9%). The newspapers did not just report the numbers (number of infections, ventilators, deaths, economic losses) but they also reported the context of the pandemic, such as, impact on economy, efforts to slow the spread of infection, switch to working from home, presence of health disparities, scientific search for reliable COVID-19 tests, and effect on supply chains. News media play a vital role in enhancing understanding of pandemic, but also in shaping public response to public health messages.

Perceived social support, problematic drug use behaviors, and depression among prescription drugs-misusing young men who have sex with men.

This study examined the relationship of perceived social support with problematic drug use behaviors and depression among young men who have sex with men (YMSM). A diverse sample of 191 substance-using YMSM (aged 18-29 years) reported on perceived social support, high-risk drug use behaviors (i.e., polydrug use and use of drugs before sex in the past 6 months, and lifetime injection drug use), and depression. Associations were examined using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression. Participants receiving higher levels of family social support were at lower odds of reporting polydrug use, drug use before sex, and depressive symptomology. Individuals with higher levels of friends' social support were at lower odds of reporting polydrug use, drug use before sex, and depression. Participants receiving higher levels of support from a special other were at lower odds of reporting depression. Intervention efforts should address YMSM's capacity to build supportive relationships and obtain adequate social support.

Early Initiation of Substance Use as an Indicator of Problematic Substance Use Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men (YMSM).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Much research has documented that young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are at higher risk for substance use-related problems. This study examined the age of substance use initiation and it's relationship to current substance use-related problems among substance-using YMSM. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 191 YMSM (aged 18 to 29) with recent histories of prescription drug misuse was conducted in Philadelphia in 2012-13. Participants were surveyed about age of initiation of cigarette smoking, alcohol use to the point of intoxication, marijuana, prescription, and illicit drugs, and about alternate modes of prescription drug administration. The severity of participants' current substance use related problems was measured using the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10). RESULTS: Mean age of initiation was 14.6 years for cigarette smoking, 15.3 years for alcohol use to the point of intoxication, 15.2 years for marijuana, 16.8 years for prescription drugs, and 17.9 years for illicit drugs. Use of 2 or more substances by the age of 15 was reported by 56% of the participants. Odds of substance-related problems were significantly greater among those who reported earlier initiation of alcohol, prescription drugs, or polysubstance use. Odds of prescription drug misuse via altered routes of administration were significantly greater among participants with earlier onset of alcohol, marijuana, prescription, illicit drugs, or polysubstance use. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that earlier initiation of substance use is associated with higher risk of substance-related problems among substance-using YMSM. Early interventions addressing substance use initiation could benefit this population.

Prescription Drug Misuse and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Young Men Who have Sex with Men (YMSM) in Philadelphia.

This study examined the relationship between prescription drug misuse and sexual risk behaviors (i.e. unprotected sex, increased number of sex partners) in a sample of young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in Philadelphia. Data come from a cross-sectional study of 18-29 year old YMSM (N = 191) who misused prescription drugs in the past 6 months. Associations were investigated in two regression models: logistic models for unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) and zero-truncated Poisson regression model for number of sex partners. Of 177 participants engaging in anal intercourse in the past 6 months, 57.6 % engaged in UAI. After adjusting for socio-demographic variables and illicit drug use, misuse of prescription pain pills and muscle relaxants remained significantly associated with engaging in receptive UAI. No prescription drug class was associated with a high number of sex partners. This study provides additional evidence that some prescription drugs are associated with sexual risk behaviors among YMSM.

Associations between prescription opioid injection and Hepatitis C virus among young injection drug users.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) incidence has been increasing among young injection drug users (IDUs). This analysis examined whether the emerging practice of prescription opioid (PO) injection is associated with self-reported HCV among young IDUs. METHODS: Young IDUs (n = 162) aged 18-25-years-old who indicated recent misuse of prescription drugs were sampled in New York and Los Angeles during 2009-2011. Participants reported lifetime PO injection history and results from their most recent HCV test as well as demographic characteristics and lifetime drug use. Bivariate analyses examined relationships between covariates and both lifetime PO injection and HCV positivity. Poisson regression examined the associations between lifetime PO injection, HCV positivity, and significant covariates. RESULTS: A majority reported lifetime PO injection (72.2%) and 30.9% self-reported being HCV positive. Lifetime PO injectors were nearly three times more likely to report being HCV positive than non-PO injectors (adjusted incidence rate ratio (AIRR): 2.69, p<0.05) after controlling for socio-demographic and other drug use variable. Additionally, substituting POs for heroin (AIRR: 2.27, p<0.05), growing up in a lower social class (AIRR: 1.67, p<0.05), age (AIRR: 1.12, p<0.05), age of injection initiation (AIRR: 0.87, p<0.001), and history of being prescribed stimulants (AIRR: 0.64, p<0.05) were independently associated with HCV positivity. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that PO injection should be given further consideration as a contributing factor to rising HCV infection among young adults in the US.

Rapid PCR/ESI-MS-based molecular genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus from nasal swabs of emergency department patients.

BACKGROUND: A limitation of both culture-based and molecular methods of screening for staphylococcal infection is that current tests determine only the presence or absence of colonization with no information on the colonizing strain type. A technique that couples polymerase chain reaction to mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) has recently been developed and an assay validated to identify and genotype S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). METHODS: This study was conducted to determine the rates, risk factors, and molecular genotypes of colonizing Staphylococcus aureus in adult patients presenting to an inner-city academic emergency department. Participants completed a structured questionnaire to assess hospital and community risks for infection with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Nasal swabs were analyzed by PCR/ESI-MS to identify and genotype S. aureus and CoNS. RESULTS: Of 200 patients evaluated, 59 were colonized with S. aureus; 27 of these were methicillin-resistant strains. Twenty-four of the 59 S. aureus carriers were co-colonized with a CoNS and 140 of the 200 patients were colonized exclusively with CoNS. The molecular genotypes of the 59 S. aureus strains were diverse; 21 unique molecular genotypes belonging to seven major clonal complexes were identified. Eighty-five of 200 patients carried strains with high-level mupirocin resistance. Of these eighty-five participants, 4 were colonized exclusively with S. aureus, 16 were co-colonized with S. aureus and CoNS, and 65 were colonized exclusively with CoNS. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus colonization in a random sample of patients seeking care in Emergency Department was 29.5% and 13.5%, respectively. A substantial fraction of the S. aureus-colonized patients were co-colonized with CoNS and high-level mupirocin-resistant CoNS. Determining the molecular genotype of S. aureus during intake screening may prove valuable in the future if certain molecular genotypes become associated with increased infection risk.

Injection drug users trained by overdose prevention programs: responses to witnessed overdoses.

In response to the growing public health problem of drug overdose, community-based organizations have initiated overdose prevention programs (OPPs), which distribute naloxone, an opioid antagonist, and teach overdose response techniques. Injection drug users (IDUs) have been targeted for this intervention due to their high risk for drug overdose. Limited research attention has focused on factors that may inhibit or prevent IDUs who have been trained by OPPs to undertake recommended response techniques when responding to a drug overdose. IDUs (n = 30) trained by two OPPs in Los Angeles were interviewed in 2010-2011 about responses to their most recently witnessed drug overdose using an instrument containing both open and closed-ended questions. Among the 30 witnessed overdose events, the victim recovered in 29 cases while the outcome was unknown in one case. Participants responded to overdoses using a variety of techniques taught by OPPs. Injecting the victim with naloxone was the most commonly recommended response while other recommended responses included stimulating the victim with knuckles, calling 911, and giving rescue breathing. Barriers preventing participants from employing recommended response techniques in certain circumstances included prior successes using folk remedies to revive a victim, concerns over attracting police to the scene, and issues surrounding access to or use of naloxone. Practical solutions, such as developing booster sessions to augment OPPs, are encouraged to increase the likelihood that trained participants respond to a drug overdose with the full range of recommended techniques.

Perceived Drug Use Functions and Risk Reduction Practices Among High-Risk Nonmedical Users of Prescription Drugs.

Nonmedical use of prescription drugs has become the fastest growing drug problem in the United States, particularly among young adults. This study examines the reasons young polydrug users misuse prescription drugs, and explores how young users employ risk reduction strategies to minimize adverse consequences. The sample was recruited during 2008 and 2009 in Los Angeles and New York, and comprised 45 nonmedical users of prescription drugs, aged 16 to 25. Data from a semistructured interview were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Participants reported nonmedical use of prescription drugs to change mood, to facilitate activity, and to monitor the intake of other substances. Commonly employed risk reduction strategies included calculating pill timing, dosage, and access, and monitoring frequency of use, particularly when combining different substances. Most study participants often planned drug use to occur within socially acceptable parameters, such that prescription drug misuse was a normalized feature of their everyday lives.

Public health and clinical impact of increasing emergency department-based HIV testing: perspectives from the 2007 conference of the National Emergency Department HIV Testing Consortium.

OBJECTIVE: Understanding perceived benefits and disadvantages of HIV testing in emergency departments (EDs) is imperative to overcoming barriers to implementation. We codify those domains of public health and clinical care most affected by implementing HIV testing in EDs, as determined by expert opinion. METHODS: Opinions were systematically collected from attendees of the 2007 National ED HIV Testing Consortium meeting. Structured evaluation of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis was conducted to assess the impact of ED-based HIV testing on public health. A modified Delphi method was used to assess the impact of ED-based HIV testing on clinical care from both individual patient and individual provider perspectives. RESULTS: Opinions were provided by 98 experts representing 42 academic and nonacademic institutions. Factors most frequently perceived to affect public health were (strengths) high volume of ED visits and high prevalence of HIV, (weaknesses) undue burden on EDs, (opportunities) reduction of HIV stigma, and (threats) lack of resources in EDs. Diagnostic testing and screening for HIV were considered to have a favorable impact on ED clinical care from both individual patient and individual provider perspectives; however, negative test results were not perceived to have any benefit from the provider's perspective. The need for HIV counseling in the ED was considered to have a negative impact on clinical care from the provider's perspective. CONCLUSION: Experts in ED-based HIV testing perceived expanded ED HIV testing to have beneficial impacts for both the public health and individual clinical care; however, limited resources were frequently cited as a possible impediment. Many issues must be resolved through further study, education, and policy changes if the full potential of HIV testing in EDs is to be realized.

2009 US emergency department HIV testing practices.

OBJECTIVES: We characterize HIV testing practices and programs in US emergency departments (EDs) in 2009. METHODS: A national Web-based survey of members of the National ED HIV Testing Consortium, participants in the 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-sponsored ED HIV Testing Workshops, all US academic EDs, and a weighted random sample of US community EDs with snowball sampling to recruit additional testing sites was conducted. Data collected included geographic location, estimated seroprevalence, indications for testing, method of consent, weekly number of tests, funding, and costs. RESULTS: Of 619 sites surveyed, 338 (54.6%) responded. A total of 277 (82.0%) reported conducting any HIV testing, and 75 (22.2%) reported systematic HIV testing programs, operationally defined as having testing or screening organized at the departmental or institutional level. systematic HIV testing programs were concentrated in the Northeast, at high-volume urban EDs, and in regions with higher HIV/AIDS prevalence. Most systematic HIV testing programs had existed for less than or equal to 3 years, and nearly one third reported using an opt-out approach for consent. Among systematic HIV testing programs, the number of patients tested ranged from less than 1 to 2,100 tests per week. Overall, universal screening was the most commonly reported screening method reported overall, and rates of HIV positivity were consistently above the CDC threshold of 0.1%. CONCLUSION: The number of EDs conducting HIV testing has grown substantially since release of the 2006 CDC HIV testing recommendations. Although many EDs have systematic HIV testing programs, the majority do not. Ongoing surveillance will be required to quantify the evolution of ED-based HIV testing and the factors that facilitate or impede expanded translation.

Reporting of recombinant adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccine adverse events in online versions of three highly circulated US newspapers.

Newspapers' reporting of adverse vaccine events may influence their readers vaccination behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine the nature and extent of coverage of Johnson and Johnson (J & J) vaccine's adverse events reported in the online versions of the three most widely circulated US daily newspapers from April 13-25, 2021. Articles were identified in published online versions of the three most widely cited newspapers in the United States, using several databases. Dedoose software was used to apply a mixed methods approach to the 110 articles identified. The seven overarching themes were as follows: (1) J & J vaccine characteristics (n = 78); (2) Description of the adverse events (n = 183); (3) Emphasis that it is a rare event and vaccine is still safe (n = 89); (4) Health authorities' investigation (n = 55); (5) Pause in administering J & J vaccine (n = 83); (6) Vaccine fear and anxiety and increased hesitancy (n = 58); (7) J & J role and impact (n = 108). Each theme included a series of subthemes. Overall, the newspaper coverage was aligned with handling of the pause from authoritative health agencies in the US. The findings of this study help to better understand how the US media covered adverse events related to the J & J vaccine, and provides insight for public health professionals regarding acceptance COVID-19 vaccines. Monitoring media coverage related to vaccine adverse events may help public health officials to develop new approaches to adequately inform the public, prevent misinformation, and maintain the optimal vaccination uptake.

A Thematic Analysis of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) YouTube Videos.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an encouraging approach to HIV prevention, yet there is a paucity of research aimed at understanding individual PrEP experiences. The current study aims to examine first-hand narratives of individuals detailing their PrEP experiences via the YouTube platform. We searched YouTube.com using the keywords, "pre-exposure prophylaxis" and "Truvada". Search results were limited to the 15 most-viewed videos. Informed by a thematic/content analysis approach, we conducted an iterative analysis of video transcripts. Narratives covered a wide range of topics including the reasons to start PrEP, interaction with providers, side effects, insurance coverage, and stigma. By and large, the videos encouraged those at risk for HIV to consider PrEP. Narratives were often characterized by emotional engagement. Given that YouTube videos are used to share individual PrEP experiences with a wider audience, our analysis may inform the development of strategies aimed at utilizing YouTube for increasing uptake of PrEP.

Indoor tanning and poor mental health among adolescents in New York City (2015).

This study explored relationships between mental health and indoor tanning among high school students in New York City using 2015 data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. Those more likely to use indoor tanning were females (odds ratio = 6.26, 95% confidence interval = 6.08-6.45) and non-Hispanic White (odds ratio = 1.10, 95% confidence interval = 1.06-1.14). Being bullied on school property (odds ratio = 1.30, 95% confidence interval = 1.25-1.34), having attempted suicide (odds ratio = 2.08, 95% confidence interval = 1.99-2.18), and having sought counseling (odds ratio = 1.22, 95% confidence interval = 1.18-1.26) were significantly associated with indoor tanning. This study indicates that engaging in indoor tanning is associated with a number of mental health factors.

Rapid identification of bacterial pathogens in positive blood culture bottles by use of a broad-based PCR assay coupled with high-resolution melt analysis.

We evaluated a broad-based PCR assay coupled with high-resolution melt analysis for rapid bacterial identification in patients with bacterial sepsis. With a reference library of 60 clinically relevant bacterial species, 52 positive blood culture samples were tested. Our assay identified 46/52 samples at the species level, with 100% concordance to culture findings.

The impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on mental health of undergraduate students in New Jersey, cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a period of upheaval for college students. The objective of this study was to assess the factors associated with the increased levels of mental health burden among a sample of undergraduate college students in Northern New Jersey, the region of the U.S. severely impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19. METHODS: College students (N = 162) enrolled in an introductory core curriculum course completed a cross-sectional survey. The survey collected information on demographics, knowledge levels and sources of COVID-19 information, behavior changes, academic and everyday difficulties, and mental health measurements (depression, anxiety, somatization, and stress). Multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with mental health outcomes. RESULTS: Descriptive findings indicate that students have a fundamental knowledge of COVID-19 transmission and common symptoms. Students tend to use and trust the official sources and have changed their behaviors in accordance with public health recommendations (i.e., increased hand washing, wearing mask). However, students reported a number of academic and everyday difficulties and high levels of mental health distress. High levels of depression were associated with difficulties in focusing on academic work and with employment losses, while higher levels of anxiety were more likely to be reported by students other than freshmen and those who spend more than one hour per day looking for information on COVID-19. Inability to focus on academic work and an elevated concern with COVID-19 were more likely to be associated with higher levels of somatization, while trusting news sources was associated with lower levels of somatization. Those with higher levels of perceived stress were more likely to be females, unable to focus on academic work, and report difficulties in obtaining medications and cleaning supplies. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic is making a significant negative impact on mental health of college students. Proactive efforts to support the mental health and well-being of students are needed.

Rapid identification of biothreat and other clinically relevant bacterial species by use of universal PCR coupled with high-resolution melting analysis.

A rapid assay for eubacterial species identification is described using high-resolution melt analysis to characterize PCR products. Unique melt profiles generated from multiple hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene for 100 clinically relevant bacterial pathogens, including category A and B biothreat agents and their surrogates, allowed highly specific species identification.

Rapid PCR-based diagnosis of septic arthritis by early Gram-type classification and pathogen identification.

Septic arthritis (SA) is a rheumatologic emergency associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Delayed or inadequate treatment of SA can lead to irreversible joint destruction and disability. Current methods of diagnosing SA rely on synovial fluid analysis and culture which are known to be imprecise and time-consuming. We report a novel adaptation of a probe-based real-time PCR assay targeting the 16S rRNA gene for early and accurate diagnosis of bacterial SA. The assay algorithm consists of initial broad-range eubacterial detection, followed by Gram typing and species characterization of the pathogen. The platform demonstrated a high analytical sensitivity with a limit of detection of 10(1) CFU/ml with a panel of SA-related organisms. Gram typing and pathogen-specific probes correctly identified their respective targets in a mock test panel of 36 common clinically relevant pathogens. One hundred twenty-one clinical synovial fluid samples from patients presenting with suspected acute SA were tested. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay were 95% and 97%, respectively, versus synovial fluid culture results. Gram-typing probes correctly identified 100% of eubacterial positive samples as to gram-positive or gram-negative status, and pathogen-specific probes correctly identified the etiologic agent in 16/20 eubacterial positive samples. The total assay time from sample collection to result is 3 h. We have demonstrated that a real-time broad-based PCR assay has high analytical and clinical performance with an improved time to detection versus culture for SA. This assay may be a useful diagnostic adjunct for clinicians, particularly those practicing in the acute care setting where rapid pathogen detection and identification would assist in disposition and treatment decisions.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis YouTube Videos: Content Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral (ARV) medicines reduce the risk of transmitting the HIV virus and are recommended as daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in combination with safer sex practices for HIV-negative individuals at a high risk for infection, but are underused in HIV prevention. Previous literature suggests that YouTube is extensively used to share health information. While pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a novel and promising approach to HIV prevention, there is limited understanding of YouTube videos as a source of information on PrEP. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe the sources, characteristics, and content of the most widely viewed PrEP YouTube videos published up to October 1, 2016. METHODS: The keywords "pre-exposure prophylaxis" and "Truvada" were used to find 217 videos with a view count >100. Videos were coded for source, view count, length, number of comments, and selected aspects of content. Videos were also assessed for the most likely target audience. RESULTS: The total cumulative number of views was >2.3 million, however, a single Centers for Disease Control and Prevention video accounted for >1.2 million of the total cumulative views. A great majority (181/217, 83.4%) of the videos promoted the use of PrEP, whereas 60.8% (132/217) identified the specific target audience. In contrast, only 35.9% (78/217) of the videos mentioned how to obtain PrEP, whereas less than one third addressed the costs, side effects, and safety aspects relating to PrEP. Medical and academic institutions were the sources of the largest number of videos (66/217, 30.4%), followed by consumers (63/217, 29.0%), community-based organizations (CBO; 48/217, 22.1%), and media (40/217, 18.4%). Videos uploaded by the media sources were more likely to discuss the cost of PrEP (P<.001), whereas the use of PrEP was less likely to be promoted in videos uploaded by individual consumers (P=.002) and more likely to be promoted in videos originated by CBOs (P=.009). The most common target audience for the videos was gay and bisexual men. CONCLUSIONS: YouTube videos can be used to share reliable PrEP information with individuals. Further research is needed to identify the best practices for using this medium to promote and increase PrEP uptake.