Immediate PrEP when accessing PEP: A service evaluation. Issue 10 (29th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cockbain, Beatrice; Whitlock, Gary
• Other Names: McOwan Alan investigator.; Patel Sheel investigator.; Nugent Diarmuid investigator.; Girometti Nicolo investigator.; Suchak Tara investigator.; Gedela Keerti investigator.; Tittle Vicky investigator.
• Is Part Of: HIV medicine. Volume 23:Issue 10(2022)
• Page Start: 1108
• Page End: 1112
• Publication Date: 2022-03-29
• Subjects: HIV -- PEP -- post exposure prophylaxis -- pre‐exposure prophylaxis -- PrEP; HIV infections -- Treatment -- Periodicals; HIV-positive persons -- Periodicals; HIV infections -- Treatment -- Decision making -- Periodicals; 616.9792
• DOI: 10.1111/hiv.13310
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1464-2662

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: In January 2021, 56 Dean Street, a London sexual health clinic, changed clinic policy so that all those attending for post‐exposure prophylaxis (PEP) were offered quick‐start opt‐out pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) following completion of the 28‐day PEP course. We assessed the uptake of this quick‐start PrEP in service users attending for PEP. Methods: We undertook a case note review of those who received PEP during the 2‐week period from 17 February to 1 March 2021, assessing the data and comparing them to those from the same period in 2020 (15 February–28 February 2020) before quick‐start opt‐out PrEP was introduced. Results: The number of service users receiving PEP was 82 in 2020 and 42 in 2021, of which an unmet PrEP need was demonstrated in 81.7% (67/82) in 2020 and 78.6% (33/42) in 2021 ( p = 0.8106). Of those with an unmet need, a higher proportion (97.0% [32/33]) were offered PrEP in 2021 following the introduction of opt‐out PrEP compared with the 85.1% (57/67) in 2020 ( p = 0.0953). Of those eligible for PrEP who were offered it during their PEP consultation, 53.1% (17/32) in 2021 were dispensed PrEP compared with 17.5% (10/57) in 2020 ( p = 0.0007). Conclusion: Since the introduction of quick‐start opt‐out PrEP, uptake in eligible candidates increased from 17.5% to 53.1%. This suggests that this strategy was acceptable to service users.