title: Towards preparedness for PrEP: PrEP awareness and acceptability among MSM at high risk of HIV transmission who use sociosexual media in four Celtic nations: Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland: an online survey.
abstract: To assess the awareness and acceptability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among men who have sex with men (MSM) and use sociosexual media at high risk of HIV infection in four Celtic nations.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  
  Online self-complete survey of 386 HIV-negative/status unknown MSM who reported condomless anal intercourse (CAI) with ≥2 men in the last year, recruited from gay sociosexual media.
  
  
  
  One-third (34.5%, 132/386) of the participants were aware of PrEP but over half (58.5%, 226/356) reported that they would be willing to use PrEP if it were available to them. Only men who regularly tested for HIV every 6 months (adjusted OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.54 to 5.42) were more likely to be aware of PrEP. PrEP acceptability was only associated with reporting ≥5 CAI partners (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.46) in the last year.
  
  
  
  Low levels of PrEP awareness were reported across these Celtic nations. Only one-third of high-risk MSM had heard of PrEP but over one-half would be willing to take a daily pill to prevent HIV infection. Sociodemographic factors, commercial gay scene proximity and social network use were unrelated to considering PrEP use. However, those reporting most CAI partners were more likely to consider PrEP use.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Jamie S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Frankis
authors.affiliation: MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lorimer
authors.affiliation: School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Flowers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001364:Awareness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D065129:Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: GAY MEN; HEALTH PROMOTION; PROPHYLAXIS; SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR; SEXUAL HEALTH