Evaluating family physicians’ willingness to prescribe PrEP

• Published in: Médecine et maladies infectieuses 2020-10, Vol.50 (7), p.606-610
• Main Authors: Villeneuve, France, Cabot, Jean-Michel, Eymard-Duvernay, Sabrina, Visier, Laurent, Tribout, Vincent, Perollaz, Cyril, Reynes, Jacques, Makinson, Alain
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Disease prevention; Family physicians; HIV; HIV prevention; Human health and pathology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Infectious diseases; Life Sciences; Physicians; Pre-exposure prophylaxis; Prevention; Sexuality; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Training program
• ISSN: 0399-077X; 1769-6690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.medmal.2020.02.003

•We evaluated family physicians’ (FP) willingness to integrate pre-exposure prophylaxis into their clinical practice. We performed a random survey with FPs in Montpellier and its surroundings. Our study findings revealed that lack of PrEP knowledge was the main factor of PrEP non-prescription, but most FPs were willing to be trained. We assessed family physicians’ (FP) willingness to integrate PrEP into their clinical practice in Montpellier and its surroundings. We aimed to randomly assess 92 FPs. Ninety-six FPs were interviewed from May to December 2018: 78% (95% CI [69; 86]) were willing to integrate PrEP, 65% to be trained, and 52% to be the first providers. Of the 65 (6%) with some knowledge of PrEP, 21 were not aware of targeted populations and 39 never talked about PrEP with their patients. Nearly all FPs declared HIV prevention as part of their job and felt at ease talking about sexuality. Considering HIV prevention as part of their job was associated with increased likelihood to integrate PrEP into their practice (P=0.015). Most FPs were willing to integrate and be trained on PrEP. Lack of PrEP prescription seemed related to a lack of knowledge. Évaluation de la volonté des médecins généralistes (MG) de Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole (3M) d’intégrer la PrEP à leur pratique. Nous avons interrogé de façon aléatoire et standardisée 92 MG. De mai à décembre 2018, sur 96 MG, 78 % (IC 95 % [69 ; 86]) voulaient intégrer la PrEP, 65 % être formés, et 52 % être primo-prescripteurs. Des 65 (68 %) qui déclaraient connaître la PrEP, 21 ignoraient les personnes ciblées et 39 n’en parlaient pas à leurs patients. La quasi-totalité des MG considéraient la prévention du VIH comme une mission et se disaient à l’aise pour aborder la sexualité. Considérer la prévention du VIH comme mission était associé à une volonté d’intégrer la PrEP à la pratique (p=0,015). Une majorité des MG souhaitaient intégrer et être formés à la PrEP. La faible prescription de PrEP semblait liée à un manque de connaissances.