Opportunities to Increase Access to HIV Prevention: Evaluating the Implementation of Pharmacist-Initiated Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in California.
Open Forum Infect Dis
; 10(11): ofad549, 2023 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38023549
ABSTRACT
Background:
Pharmacies are a promising setting through which to expand access to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention, including pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP, respectively). We aimed to evaluate and inform the implementation of California's Senate Bill 159 (2019), allowing pharmacists to independently prescribe PrEP and PEP.Methods:
From October through December 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 919 California pharmacists and pharmacy students, primarily recruited via the email listservs of professional organizations. Participants completed an online survey assessing the implementation of pharmacist-initiated PrEP/PEP, including knowledge, attitudes, practices, perceived barriers, and implementation preferences elicited through a discrete choice experiment.Results:
Among 919 participants (84% practicing pharmacists, 43% in community pharmacies), 11% and 13% reported that pharmacists at their pharmacy initiate PrEP and PEP, respectively. Most believed that pharmacist-initiated PrEP/PEP is important (96%) and were willing to provide PrEP (81%); fewer (27%) had PrEP/PEP training. Common implementation barriers were lack of staff/time and payment for pharmacist services. Participants preferred PrEP implementation models with in-pharmacy rapid oral HIV testing and pharmacists specifically hired to provide PrEP services.Conclusions:
Despite pharmacists' supportive attitudes, Senate Bill 159 implementation in California pharmacies remains limited, in part due to policy-level and organizational-level barriers. Ensuring PrEP/PEP-related payment for services and sufficient workforce capacity is key to leveraging pharmacists' role in HIV prevention.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Open Forum Infect Dis
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos