Low risk gay men who are using PrEP: A qualitative study Version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The experiences of non-high risk men who have sex with men (MSM) who are using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
IRAS ID
266963
Contact name
Christopher P McCormack
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Essex
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 0 days
Research summary
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is highly prevalent among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the UK. In recent years, there has been an exciting development in prevention with the availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP, which involves a daily dose of an HIV drug that blocks HIV from infiltrating cells (and thus prevents infection), is recommended for use in high-risk MSM, as it has shown to reduce infection by 86%. However, it is not universally available and many MSM are buying the drug online without a prescription. Anecdotal reports suggest that some non-risk MSM are using the medication, perhaps to manage HIV health anxiety. The aim of the study is to explore the experiences of MSM who are using PrEP despite not being deemed high-risk of HIV infection. It will also investigate any possible shared perceptions of HIV risk and to explore their reasons for initiation of PrEP. Furthermore, the study will aim to explore any differences between sub-groups (i.e. those who meet diagnostic criteria for health anxiety and those who do not).
20 PrEP-using MSM who are not deemed high-risk of HIV infection will be recruited from 2 NHS Trusts providing sexual health and HIV clinics. Stratified purposeful sampling will be used to recruit to 2 sub-groups: those meeting the diagnostic criteria for health anxiety and those who do not.
Each participant will be opportunistically recruited from a study site (sexual health clinic). They will be required to give informed consent, complete a questionnaire (HAI-18) and participate in a semi-structured interview (lasting around 1 hour and conducted by the Chief Investigator).
The research is being undertaken as part of a professional doctorate in clinical psychology.REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1954
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion