Great PrEParations: beyond the risk of HIV.

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Great PrEParations: beyond the risk of HIV. A qualitative study of gay and bisexual men’s lived experience of taking Pre-exposure Prophylaxis to HIV medication (PrEP) in the West of Scotland

  • IRAS ID

    251367

  • Contact name

    Elizabeth C Rooney

  • Contact email

    erooney1@nhs.net

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of the West of Scotland

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 2 months, 31 days

  • Research summary

    Great PrEParations: beyond the risk of HIV.
    A qualitative study of gay and bisexual men’s lived experience of taking Pre-exposure Prophylaxis to HIV medication (PrEP) in the West of Scotland. This study is being undertaken as part of a Professional Doctorate at the University of the West of Scotland.
    Aim
    To understand the experiences of men who have sex with men (MSM), living in areas of higher deprivation in Scotland, who are taking HIV pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
    Objectives
    To explore the rationale for and experiences of accessing and utilising PrEP among MSM living in Scottish Index of Multiple Derivation (SIMD) areas 1 and 2.
    To understand the barriers and facilitators to (a) the uptake of PrEP and (b) adherence to PrEP among the above population.
    To gain insight into sexual behaviours among the above population in the light of PrEP
    The Scottish Medicines Consortium approved a public health programme of PrEP in 2017. This medication is given to help prevent the acquisition of HIV.
    To date there is an absence of research regarding what happens in the real world when PrEP is given as part of routine NHS care. Concerns have been raised around the possibility of widening health inequalities. This study aims to explore the experiences of MSM with potentially lower socio-economic status in terms of barriers/facilitators to accessing and taking PrEP which may address these concerns and usefully inform best practice in Scotland.
    This study will recruit 10 – 15 adult MSM via NHS sexual health services who live in SIMD quintile areas 1 and 2 of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde who are taking PrEP medication. Participants will take part in one semi-structured telephone interview lasting 60-90 minutes. The study will follow the interpretive phenomenological analysis approach and funding is by the lead researchers personal resources.

  • REC name

    East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    20/EE/0268

  • Date of REC Opinion

    16 Dec 2020

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion