Provider Knowledge Gaps in HIV PrEP Affect Practice Patterns in the US Navy

Abstract Introduction Although HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is available at no cost to personnel in the United States (U.S.) military, uptake has been lower than expected. An online survey was conducted assessing current knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of primary care providers in the U...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Military medicine 2020-02, Vol.185 (1-2), p.e117-e124
Main Authors: Wilson, Kerry, Beckett, Charmagne G, Blaylock, Jason M, Okulicz, Jason F, Scott, Paul T, Hakre, Shilpa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Armed forces
Attitude of Health Personnel
Cross-Sectional Studies
Disease prevention
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
HIV
HIV Infections - prevention & control
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Knowledge
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
Primary care
Surveys and Questionnaires
United States
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Summary:Abstract Introduction Although HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is available at no cost to personnel in the United States (U.S.) military, uptake has been lower than expected. An online survey was conducted assessing current knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of primary care providers in the U.S. Navy. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional anonymous online survey was conducted among U.S. Navy healthcare providers in active service. Providers’ demographics, medical practice and PrEP experience, and attitudes regarding PrEP were assessed by self-rated PrEP knowledge. Results Greater than half of respondents reported being knowledgeable about PrEP and a majority (78%) supported the provision of PrEP in the military health system. However, only 19% had ever prescribed PrEP. Self-reports of having been questioned by a patient about PrEP, having high levels of comfort discussing sexual risk behaviors, and being in a specialty of infectious disease, occupational health, or preventive medicine were associated with increased knowledge about PrEP. The more knowledgeable a provider was about PrEP, the more likely they were to prescribe it (29% vs. 6%). Conclusions Although Navy providers were supportive of the provision of PrEP by the military, knowledge gaps remain. Training to address the knowledge deficit as well as improving sexual history taking are potential areas to target in implementing PrEP in primary care specialties.
ISSN:0026-4075
1930-613X
DOI:10.1093/milmed/usz131