Lessons Learned From Engaging Healthcare Providers in Research on Implementation of HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis

Raiza M. Beltran, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
Anna-Sophia Katomski, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.
Stephen Bonett, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
Rosina Cianelli, School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL.
Amy Corneli, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC.
Donaldson F. Conserve, Milken Institute of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC.
Joseph P. De Santis, School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL.
Danielle Estes, Ladies Empowerment & Action Program, Miami, FL.
Susan M. Graham, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA.
Laura Hoyt D'Anna, California State University, Long Beach, CA.
Naana Koranteng-Yorke, Milken Institute of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC.
Kathryn M. Nowotny, Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Miami, Miami, FL.
Tam Phan, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Carlos Rodriguez-Diaz, Milken Institute of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC.
Waimar Tun, Population Council, Washington, DC.
Stefan Baral, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.
Sheree Schwartz, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.
Julia L. Marcus, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; and.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

4-15-2025

Journal

Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)

Volume

98

Issue

5S

DOI

10.1097/QAI.0000000000003612

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Health care providers are critical for successful implementation of HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), but barriers to PrEP provision persist. Researchers must engage with providers to understand how to optimize PrEP delivery across settings. Yet researcher-provider collaborations can be challenging. To offer guidance on engaging providers in PrEP implementation research, we synthesized the experiences of researchers working with different types of providers on studies related to PrEP implementation that were funded as part of the US Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative. SETTING: Geographic areas designated as high priority by the EHE initiative. METHODS: We defined providers broadly, including physicians, pharmacists, health educators, and peer navigators. Using thematic analysis from collaborative case reports by EHE study teams, we synthesized strategies, challenges, and successes related to provider engagement, with categorization into three stages of research: study development, recruitment, and data collection. RESULTS: Among 17 research teams invited, 9 contributed. Findings suggested that extensive resources (eg, time, professional networks, financial, and nonfinancial incentives) are required to engage clinical and nonclinical providers across all stages of PrEP implementation research, with the most intensive strategies required for recruiting clinical providers who are not yet providing PrEP. However, when effective strategies are deployed, this investment of resources can yield rich insights into PrEP implementation. CONCLUSIONS: The lessons learned by the investigators in our study can be applied to future EHE-funded projects, other HIV-prevention studies, and studies in other areas of health research to improve engagement of providers during all stages of the research process.

Department

School of Medicine and Health Sciences Student Works

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