Evaluation of a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) program for HIV prevention in a federally qualified health center (FQHC).

Abstract

Preventing new cases of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is key to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America initiative. In 2012, Truvada became the first medication approved in the United States to prevent HIV infection, yet it has not seen widespread use. This study aimed to allow for the incorporation of an HIV risk assessment into the primary care provider (PCP) visit and promote increased numbers of patients screened for pre-exposure prophylaxis of HIV (PrEP). An educational program and an electronic HIV risk assessment tool were provided to the healthcare providers in an urban federally qualified health center to decrease barriers to providing PrEP. Provider likelihood to prescribe PrEP increased among the internal medicine/family medicine (p=.0001, p=.0001) and obstetrics/gynecology providers (p=.0034, p=.0034), but there was no significant change among the pediatric providers (p=.4227, p=.1965). Improvement among most providers demonstrated the success of this effort. Additional assessments and interventions are warranted among pediatric providers. Continued efforts are needed to progress to the incorporation of PrEP in the PCP visit.