Preparing for the use of Long-acting ANtiretrovirals in HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
What is the Research About?
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes AIDS by weakening the immune system. There is no cure for HIV. HIV can be acquired through sharing injection drug use equipment, and also through vaginal or anal sex without a condom if the sexual partner living with HIV has a detectable viral load (above 200 copies/mL).
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an HIV prevention strategy in which people who have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours can use anti-HIV medications to decrease the chance of infection. It is very effective but can be inconvenient because it involves taking pills for 28 days. In recent years, new long-acting injectable medications taken every 1-2 months have become available that are highly effective at treating HIV and at preventing HIV when used as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). These medications have not been studied for use as PEP, but there is reason to believe they would be similarly effective if used this way. As a result, our research team is studying this idea of using long-acting medications as PEP.
This study is made up of three components. Component 1 is a quantitative cohort study of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) users. Recruitment for this component is not being conducted through this website. Component 2 is a qualitative study involving interviews with community members from six priority groups. Component 3 is a qualitative study which involves interviews or focus groups with clinical or social services providers who self-identify as knowledgeable and/or experienced in HIV and/or HIV PEP.
What does participation involve?
Component 2 (Interviews with community members)
Participation involves completing a short questionnaire about your demographic characteristics, followed by a one-on-one interview conducted either online or in person (approximately 45 to 90 minutes). During the interview, we will discuss your experiences with and/or thoughts about oral PEP, as well as your opinions and perspectives on long-acting PEP. Participants will receive an honorarium for their time.
Component 3 (Interview/focus groups with clinical or social services providers)
Participation involves either a one-on-one interview or a focus group conducted either online or in person (approximately 45 to 90 minutes). During the interview, we will discuss your thoughts about the idea of long-acting PEP and how feasible and acceptable you think it would be. We also want to better understand your clinical experience with standard oral PEP, including your patients’ experiences of side effects, adherence, follow-up HIV testing, and interest in starting PrEP afterward.
Who is eligible to participate?
Component 2
You are eligible if you:
- Live in Ontario
- Are 16 years of age or older
- Are HIV negative or status unknown
Identify with one or more of the following groups:
- Gay, Bisexual, and other men who have sex with men
- African, Caribbean or Black
- Cisgender or transgender woman
- A person who injects drugs
- Indigenous
Component 3
You are eligible if you are:
- A clinical or social services provider who self-identifies as knowledgeable and/or experienced in HIV and/or HIV PEP.
- Currently practising in Canada
How do I participate?
If you are interested in participating in this study, e-mail us at yaa.duopah@unityhealth.to. A member of our study team will reach out with next steps.
Please note that e-mail is not secure. E-mails can be intercepted, viewed, changed or saved by others. Only send information to this address that you do not feel is sensitive.
Funding
This study is funded by the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR)