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Journal of General Internal Medicine
Published in: Journal of General Internal Medicine 10/2020

01-10-2020 | Human Immunodeficiency Virus | Original Research

Student Education About Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Varies Between Regions of the United States

Authors: Samuel R. Bunting, BS, Sarah S. Garber, PhD, Robert H. Goldstein, MD, PhD, Timothy D. Ritchie, PhD, Tamzin J. Batteson, BSc, Timothy J. Keyes, BA

Published in: Journal of General Internal Medicine | Issue 10/2020

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Abstract

Background

Daily, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective and safe prevention strategy for people at risk for HIV. However, prescription of PrEP has been limited for patients at the highest risk. Disparities in PrEP prescription are pronounced among racial and gender minority patients. A significant body of literature indicates that practicing healthcare providers have little awareness and knowledge of PrEP. Very little work has investigated the education about PrEP among health professionals in training.

Objective

The objective of this study was to compare health professions students’ awareness of PrEP and education about PrEP between regions of the US, and to determine if correlations between regional HIV incidence and PrEP use were present.

Design

Survey study.

Participants

A cross-sectional sample of health professions students (N = 1859) representing future prescribers (MD, DO, PA), pharmacists, and nurses in the US.

Key Results

Overall, 83.4% of students were aware of PrEP, but only 62.2% of fourth-year students indicated they had been taught about PrEP at any time during their training. Education about PrEP was most comprehensive in the Northeastern US, the area with the highest PrEP to need ratio (4.7). In all regions, transgender patients and heterosexual men and women were least likely to be presented in education as PrEP candidates, and men who have sex with men were the most frequently presented.

Conclusions

There are marked differences in education regarding PrEP both between academic programs and regions of the USA.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Student Education About Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Varies Between Regions of the United States
Authors
Samuel R. Bunting, BS
Sarah S. Garber, PhD
Robert H. Goldstein, MD, PhD
Timothy D. Ritchie, PhD
Tamzin J. Batteson, BSc
Timothy J. Keyes, BA
Publication date
01-10-2020
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Journal of General Internal Medicine / Issue 10/2020
Print ISSN: 0884-8734
Electronic ISSN: 1525-1497
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-05736-y

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