Physicians' preparedness for pre-exposure prophylaxis: results of an online survey in Belgium

Thijs Reyniers; Bea Vuylsteke; Benoit Pirotte; Elske Hoornenborg; Janneke P. Bil; Kristien Wouters; Marie Laga; Christiana Nöstlinger

doi:10.1071/SH18072

Physicians' preparedness for pre-exposure prophylaxis: results of an online survey in Belgium

Thijs Reyniers, Bea Vuylsteke, Benoit Pirotte, Elske Hoornenborg, Janneke P. Bil, Kristien Wouters, Marie Laga, Christiana Nöstlinger

Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Web of Science-article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Physicians have a crucial role in the implementation and scale up of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The objective of this study is to examine Belgian physicians' PrEP knowledge, concerns, acceptance and their willingness to prescribe PrEP.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between March and June 2016. Dissemination targeted Belgian primary care physicians (PCPs) and HIV specialists. Sociodemographic characteristics, experience with HIV and PrEP, self-assessed PrEP knowledge, concerns about PrEP, and PrEP acceptance were stratified according to professional background. Associations with willingness to prescribe PrEP were examined using univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses.

Results: In total, 333 completed surveys were included in the analysis. Sixty-two physicians (18.6%) scored their knowledge of PrEP to be good, 263 (79.0%) had an accepting attitude towards PrEP and 198 (59.5%) were willing to prescribe PrEP if approved in Belgium. HIV specialists consistently reported having better knowledge of PrEP, less concerns and a more accepting attitude towards PrEP than PCPs. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, higher PrEP knowledge (OR 2.4; 95%CI: 1.0-5.7) and higher PrEP acceptance (OR: 3.8; 95%CI: 2.1-6.8) remained significantly associated with the willingness to prescribe PrEP.

Conclusions: HIV specialists are better prepared to provide PrEP than PCPs in Belgium. Interventions to improve PrEP knowledge and acceptance among all providers are needed. The role of PCPs could be very important in optimising the rollout of PrEP, but additional training and guidelines will be needed.

Original language	English
Journal	Sexual Health
Volume	15
Issue number	6
Pages (from-to)	606-611
Number of pages	6
ISSN	1448-5028
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1071/SH18072
Publication status	Published - 2018

Keywords

family physicians
HIV prevention
HIV specialists
primary care physician
HEALTH-CARE PROVIDERS
HIV PREVENTION
PREP
KNOWLEDGE
ATTITUDES
PRESCRIPTION
MEN
SEX

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10.1071/SH18072

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@article{c49b0a1b7b824b2e94d5fedaf2b1b837,

title = "Physicians' preparedness for pre-exposure prophylaxis: results of an online survey in Belgium",

abstract = "Background: Physicians have a crucial role in the implementation and scale up of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The objective of this study is to examine Belgian physicians' PrEP knowledge, concerns, acceptance and their willingness to prescribe PrEP. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between March and June 2016. Dissemination targeted Belgian primary care physicians (PCPs) and HIV specialists. Sociodemographic characteristics, experience with HIV and PrEP, self-assessed PrEP knowledge, concerns about PrEP, and PrEP acceptance were stratified according to professional background. Associations with willingness to prescribe PrEP were examined using univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses. Results: In total, 333 completed surveys were included in the analysis. Sixty-two physicians (18.6%) scored their knowledge of PrEP to be good, 263 (79.0%) had an accepting attitude towards PrEP and 198 (59.5%) were willing to prescribe PrEP if approved in Belgium. HIV specialists consistently reported having better knowledge of PrEP, less concerns and a more accepting attitude towards PrEP than PCPs. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, higher PrEP knowledge (OR 2.4; 95%CI: 1.0-5.7) and higher PrEP acceptance (OR: 3.8; 95%CI: 2.1-6.8) remained significantly associated with the willingness to prescribe PrEP. Conclusions: HIV specialists are better prepared to provide PrEP than PCPs in Belgium. Interventions to improve PrEP knowledge and acceptance among all providers are needed. The role of PCPs could be very important in optimising the rollout of PrEP, but additional training and guidelines will be needed.",

keywords = "family physicians, HIV prevention, HIV specialists, primary care physician, HEALTH-CARE PROVIDERS, HIV PREVENTION, PREP, KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, PRESCRIPTION, MEN, SEX",

author = "Thijs Reyniers and Bea Vuylsteke and Benoit Pirotte and Elske Hoornenborg and Bil, {Janneke P.} and Kristien Wouters and Marie Laga and Christiana N{\"o}stlinger",

note = "NPP",

year = "2018",

doi = "10.1071/SH18072",

language = "English",

volume = "15",

pages = "606--611",

journal = "Sexual Health",

issn = "1448-5028",

publisher = "CSIRO Publishing",

number = "6",

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Physicians' preparedness for pre-exposure prophylaxis: results of an online survey in Belgium. / Reyniers, Thijs ; Vuylsteke, Bea; Pirotte, Benoit; Hoornenborg, Elske; Bil, Janneke P.; Wouters, Kristien ; Laga, Marie ; Nöstlinger, Christiana.

In: Sexual Health, Vol. 15, No. 6, 2018, p. 606-611.

Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Web of Science-article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Physicians' preparedness for pre-exposure prophylaxis: results of an online survey in Belgium

AU - Reyniers, Thijs

AU - Vuylsteke, Bea

AU - Pirotte, Benoit

AU - Hoornenborg, Elske

AU - Bil, Janneke P.

AU - Wouters, Kristien

AU - Laga, Marie

AU - Nöstlinger, Christiana

N1 - NPP

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Background: Physicians have a crucial role in the implementation and scale up of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The objective of this study is to examine Belgian physicians' PrEP knowledge, concerns, acceptance and their willingness to prescribe PrEP. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between March and June 2016. Dissemination targeted Belgian primary care physicians (PCPs) and HIV specialists. Sociodemographic characteristics, experience with HIV and PrEP, self-assessed PrEP knowledge, concerns about PrEP, and PrEP acceptance were stratified according to professional background. Associations with willingness to prescribe PrEP were examined using univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses. Results: In total, 333 completed surveys were included in the analysis. Sixty-two physicians (18.6%) scored their knowledge of PrEP to be good, 263 (79.0%) had an accepting attitude towards PrEP and 198 (59.5%) were willing to prescribe PrEP if approved in Belgium. HIV specialists consistently reported having better knowledge of PrEP, less concerns and a more accepting attitude towards PrEP than PCPs. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, higher PrEP knowledge (OR 2.4; 95%CI: 1.0-5.7) and higher PrEP acceptance (OR: 3.8; 95%CI: 2.1-6.8) remained significantly associated with the willingness to prescribe PrEP. Conclusions: HIV specialists are better prepared to provide PrEP than PCPs in Belgium. Interventions to improve PrEP knowledge and acceptance among all providers are needed. The role of PCPs could be very important in optimising the rollout of PrEP, but additional training and guidelines will be needed.

AB - Background: Physicians have a crucial role in the implementation and scale up of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The objective of this study is to examine Belgian physicians' PrEP knowledge, concerns, acceptance and their willingness to prescribe PrEP. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between March and June 2016. Dissemination targeted Belgian primary care physicians (PCPs) and HIV specialists. Sociodemographic characteristics, experience with HIV and PrEP, self-assessed PrEP knowledge, concerns about PrEP, and PrEP acceptance were stratified according to professional background. Associations with willingness to prescribe PrEP were examined using univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses. Results: In total, 333 completed surveys were included in the analysis. Sixty-two physicians (18.6%) scored their knowledge of PrEP to be good, 263 (79.0%) had an accepting attitude towards PrEP and 198 (59.5%) were willing to prescribe PrEP if approved in Belgium. HIV specialists consistently reported having better knowledge of PrEP, less concerns and a more accepting attitude towards PrEP than PCPs. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, higher PrEP knowledge (OR 2.4; 95%CI: 1.0-5.7) and higher PrEP acceptance (OR: 3.8; 95%CI: 2.1-6.8) remained significantly associated with the willingness to prescribe PrEP. Conclusions: HIV specialists are better prepared to provide PrEP than PCPs in Belgium. Interventions to improve PrEP knowledge and acceptance among all providers are needed. The role of PCPs could be very important in optimising the rollout of PrEP, but additional training and guidelines will be needed.

KW - family physicians

KW - HIV prevention

KW - HIV specialists

KW - primary care physician

KW - HEALTH-CARE PROVIDERS

KW - HIV PREVENTION

KW - PREP

KW - KNOWLEDGE

KW - ATTITUDES

KW - PRESCRIPTION

KW - MEN

KW - SEX

U2 - 10.1071/SH18072

DO - 10.1071/SH18072

M3 - A1: Web of Science-article

C2 - 30384876

VL - 15

SP - 606

EP - 611

JO - Sexual Health

JF - Sexual Health

SN - 1448-5028

IS - 6

ER -

Physicians' preparedness for pre-exposure prophylaxis: results of an online survey in Belgium

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Keywords

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