What is PrEP?
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily pill for HIV-negative people to reduce their risk of acquiring the virus.
Truvada, the only drug currently approved for use as PrEP, is a single pill that combines two anti-HIV drugs – tenofovir and emtricitabine. A daily Truvada pill helps reduce the risk of getting HIV.
Daniel, physician
Why prescribe PrEP?
The CDC has established that daily intake of PrEP lowers a patient’s HIV risk through sex by over 90% and through injection drug use by more than 70%.
What steps are essential to offering PrEP to your patient?
- Taking a medical and social history
- Assessing payment options (insurance) for PrEP
- Obtaining baseline testing
Shauna, nurse practitioner
Which criteria can help determine if your patient is a good candidate for PrEP?
- Having an HIV-positive partner
- Not knowing the HIV-status of their sexual partner(s)
- Having an STD
- Belonging to the transgender or gender non-binary communities
- Engaging in sex work
- Using drugs or alcohol heavily
- Recently threatened with violence or physically harmed by their partner(s)
- Being in a serodiscordant relationship where one is trying to get pregnant
What groups have been included in PrEP clinical trials to date?
- Gay and bisexual men
- Transgender women and gender non-binary individuals (TGNB)
- Heterosexual women
- Serodiscordant couples
- Injection drug users
Sherice, social worker
How comfortable are you having a conversation with your patients about sexual health?
If you feel some level of discomfort and anticipate your patients feeling the same, there are several training options for you, including sexual health guides.
Do you feel well-prepared to have sexual health discussions with your patients who belong to the LGBTQIA community?
Navigating these discussions in a non-judgmental and culturally sensitive way, particularly with members of marginalized groups like the LGBTQIA community, is integral to the provider-patient relationship and uncovering the information needed to determine PrEP eligibility.
Christopher, physician
Is there a minimum age for eligible PrEP patients?
The approval of PrEP as an HIV prevention option has been expanded to include adolescents at risk for HIV who weigh at least 77 pounds.
Should you be having conversations with your senior patients about PrEP?
Absolutely! A common myth is that people of a mature age do not have sexual relations. Reports have revealed that around 21% of all new HIV diagnoses are among older adults, of which a quarter are over the age of 60.
Veronica, social worker
What information can you provide to patients who might not be able to afford PrEP?
Talk to them about PrEP DAP, an assistance program created for HIV-negative Washingtonians who are considered high-risk for contracting HIV and are prescribed PrEP. Additionally, the Gilead Advancing Access program offers information to help your patients find co-pay support, government insurance support, and uninsured support.
Are you interested in prescribing PrEP?
If so, please take a look at prescription details put together by the official Truvada for PrEP site for providers.
Kevin, physician
Resources
The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed an app to assist clinicians, testing providers, pharmacists, and counsellors in their efforts to prescribe PrEP and monitor patients.
These state-by-state resources pages offer additional support for becoming a more PrEP-friendly provider.
Here is a guide to Sexual Risk Reduction Counseling
End AIDS Washington offers key steps to help minimize the spread of HIV: getting insured, getting tested, getting PrEP, and getting on treatment.
Additional PrEP information for Providers in WA.