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The following is a summary of “Determinants of Familiarity and Experience with HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Primary Care Providers in Ontario, Canada,” published in the January 2025 issue of Primary Care by Martinez-Cajas et al. 

Despite increased access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Canada, primary care providers (PCPs) in suburban and rural Ontario have limited familiarity and experience. A situational analysis identified key barriers and facilitators. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to assess familiarity and experience with HIV PrEP among PCPs in suburban and rural Ontario.  

They surveyed a non-probabilistic sample of PCPs using an online questionnaire based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Poisson regressions with robust variance assessed the relationship between CFIR domains, sociodemographic, and practice characteristics on PrEP familiarity and experience. 

The results showed that 54 PCPs (6% response rate) participated, with 80% being physicians and 20% nurses. Nearly 30% worked with key populations, and 18% reported high familiarity with PrEP, while 44% had PrEP experience. PrEP familiarity and experience were associated with working in organizations serving key populations, with gender minorities, and with colleagues providing PrEP. Providers with a positive perception of PrEP and its necessity for at-risk populations were more likely to have PrEP-related experience. Higher familiarity and experience were reported by PCPs with specific clinical skills and those who perceived PrEP as compatible with their practice. 

Investigators found that organizational support and additional training and education would facilitate PrEP provision by PCPs in suburban and rural Ontario. 

Source: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21501319251315566