Pharmacy PrEP Delivery Project: Improving HIV Prevention
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improving access to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): examining pharmacy delivery (phase 2)
IRAS ID
345513
Contact name
Jeremy Horwood
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 1 days
Research summary
This research involves collaboration between the University of Bristol University Hospitals Bristol and Western Foundation Trust Unity Sexual Health services and five independent community pharmacies.
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a drug taken by HIV-negative people before and after sex that reduces the risk of contracting HIV. PrEP is available free of charge through NHS sexual health clinics. However, stigma surrounding sexual health services can significantly hinder access to PrEP, particularly among certain groups such as women, ethnic minority communities, and transgender individuals, thereby widening health inequities.
Pharmacies play a crucial role in public health services and are uniquely positioned to reach disadvantaged, marginalized, and vulnerable populations due to their local presence and accessibility. Pharmacies in the UK already contribute significantly to sexual health services and could further enhance access to PrEP, thereby improving health equity.
Phase one of this research involved conducting interviews with pharmacy staff, public health stakeholders and community members to understand the acceptability and feasibility of pharmacy PrEP delivery. Results point to the need to develop a behaviour change intervention that incorporates improving HIV and PrEP awareness, knowledge and training for pharmacy staff and community members in addition to facilitating environmental and system level changes to support access to and initiation of PrEP.
This application is to conduct a pilot PrEP delivery pilot in five community pharmacies in the Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire area. This pilot will involve training pharmacy staff about HIV and PrEP, enabling them to carry out PrEP consultations with community members who visit the pharmacy. During the consultations, pharmacists they will raise awareness of PrEP and refer interested and eligible community members to the local sexual health clinic (i.e., Unity). Unity will then carry out remote consultations and prescribe and deliver PrEP via royal mail recorded delivery.REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/PR/0963
Date of REC Opinion
30 Aug 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion