Evaluation of a telemedicine pilot program for the provision of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in the Southeastern United States

ABSTRACT

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily regimen that reduces the risk of acquiring HIV by up to 97%. There is limited information on the use of telehealth to provide PrEP in a program aimed toward the primary prevention of HIV. This was a 6-month telePrEP feasibility study that assessed process measures, clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square analysis were used to evaluate measures and outcomes from the start to the end of the study. Twenty patients enrolled, and 80% completed the study. Participants were cisgender males (100%) with an average age of 35.6 years, white (95%), and were college graduates or higher (55%). The majority (75%) had very high comfort with video calls before the program. Self-reported adherence to PrEP medication remained high throughout the program (60%–70%). Without this program 31.2% of participants were unlikely to have received PrEP. For obtaining PrEP 56.3% preferred telemedicine only, and 31.2% preferred a combination of telemedicine and in-person office visits. PrEP is an effective method of preventing HIV infection for those at high risk. Our program shows that telemedicine can be useful to expand access to medication for patients at high risk.

KEYWORDS:

• PrEP
• pre-exposure prophylaxis
• telemedicine
• telePrEP
• HIV prevention

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

Marty S. Player, MD MSCR and Vanessa A. Diaz, MD MSCR contributed to study design, data collection, data analysis, drafting and editing of the manuscript.

Nicole A. Cooper, MPH contributed to drafting and editing of the manuscript.

Suzanne Perkins, MPH contributed to data analysis, drafting and editing of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the South Carolina Telehealth Alliance and the Health Resources and Services Administration of the US Department of Health and Human Services as part of the National Telehealth Center of Excellence Award (U66 RH31458).