title: Knowledge of and opinions on HIV preexposure prophylaxis among front-line service providers at Canadian AIDS service organizations.
abstract: Oral daily tenofovir/emtricitabine (Truvada) is approved in the United States for HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) but has generated controversy in the media and within HIV-affected communities. We conducted an online survey about PrEP-related knowledge, experience, opinions, and learning needs, and received 160 responses from service providers at Canadian AIDS Service Organizations. Respondents were cautiously optimistic about PrEP and 48.8% believed that PrEP warranted Health Canada approval. In multivariable logistic regression, support for PrEP approval was associated with more years working in HIV (odds ratio=1.89 per decade, 95% CI=1.10, 3.25), low baseline familiarity with PrEP (OR=3.24, 95% CI=1.01, 14.41), and knowing someone who had used PrEP (OR=4.39, 95% CI=1.28,15.08). Participants major concerns about PrEP were similar to those highlighted in other publications, and some issues specific to certain target populations were raised. Several participants (26.2%) had been asked about PrEP in the past year and 10.6% knew of one or more Canadian who had used PrEP. Despite clients' interest, most participants thought that they (60.6%) or their organization (63.1%) did not have enough current knowledge about PrEP, highlighting the need for further education on this novel HIV prevention strategy.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Senn
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilton
authors.forename: Malika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Darrell H S
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002170:Canada; D018890:Chemoprevention; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000068679:Emtricitabine; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000068698:Tenofovir
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D063065:Organophosphonates; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000068698:Tenofovir; D000068679:Emtricitabine; D000225:Adenine