Development of a pharmacy-based HIV PrEP service delivery intervention for Washington, District of Columbia (DC): A study protocol

Authors

Waimar Tun, Population Council, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Mamaswatsi Kopeka, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Donaldson F. Conserve, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Jennifer Gomez-Berrospi, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Samuel Janson, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Courtney Johnson, Us Helping US, People Into Living, Inc., Washington, DC, United States of America.
Adedotun Ogunbajo, Us Helping US, People Into Living, Inc., Washington, DC, United States of America.
Ngozi Joy Idika, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Jenesis Duran, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Arianna Lendino, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Bezawit Bekele, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Maya Rezende Tsao, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Sumaiya Nezam, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Arona Dieng, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Naana Koranteng-Yorke, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Bridget Martin, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Journal

PloS one

Volume

19

Issue

10

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0311694

Abstract

Pharmacy-based PrEP service delivery models can help address many of the barriers that inhibit the uptake of PrEP. In an increasing number of states, legislation has been passed, or is under consideration, to allow pharmacists to initiate PrEP without a prescription from a physician or other prescriber. However, there is not yet legislation in Washington, DC to allow pharmacy-based PrEP despite its potential to curb new cases of HIV, which disproportionately affect the Black community in the area. The DC Ends HIV Plan has a goal of less than 130 new cases of HIV per year by 2030, which would require that over 13,000 high-risk residents use PrEP. However, in 2021 only 6,724 Washingtonians were taking PrEP. This study seeks to address the absence of critical formative research into the factors that would influence the implementation of pharmacy-based PrEP in Washington DC using the Implementation Mapping (IM) framework. A needs assessment will be conducted through in-depth interviews (IDIs) with pharmacists (n = 6), PrEP providers (n = 6), current PrEP users (n = 6), DC Department of Health officials (n = 2), DC Board of Pharmacy officials (n = 4) and pharmacy-based PrEP experts (n = 4) to provide input on the operational aspects of pharmacy-based PrEP model as a strategy to increase PrEP uptake. Information gathered through this needs assessment will be used to develop standard operating procedures for the introduction of pilot pharmacy-based PrEP into community-based retail pharmacies.

APA Citation

Tun, Waimar; Kopeka, Mamaswatsi; Conserve, Donaldson F.; Gomez-Berrospi, Jennifer; Janson, Samuel; Johnson, Courtney; Ogunbajo, Adedotun; Idika, Ngozi Joy; Duran, Jenesis; Lendino, Arianna; Bekele, Bezawit; Tsao, Maya Rezende; Nezam, Sumaiya; Dieng, Arona; Koranteng-Yorke, Naana; and Martin, Bridget, "Development of a pharmacy-based HIV PrEP service delivery intervention for Washington, District of Columbia (DC): A study protocol" (2024). GW Authored Works. Paper 5828.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/5828

Department

Prevention and Community Health