Exploring real-world experiences of early PrEP adopters in southern Germany

ABSTRACT

Germany authorized reimbursement for PrEP and established PrEP provider training in 2019, much later than its Western European counterparts. Understanding the lived experiences of early adopters of PrEP could inform the ramp-up phase of PrEP implementation in Germany. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of southern German men who started PrEP prior to 2019. In Spring 2018, we conducted 13 in-depth interviews with men who have sex with men (MSM) regarding PrEP initiation, adoption and routine care. Transcripts were transcribed, translated, validated, then analysed using thematic content analysis. Participants started PrEP in 2017–2018. They described the security that PrEP provided and the ability to enjoy their sex lives more fully. Some raised concerns about side effects and the lack of long-term data. Users valued a non-judgmental relationship with their providers. Users’ aspirations for future HIV prevention included: prescription-free PrEP, decreased dosing frequency, and telemedicine consultations.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV prevention
• pre-exposure prophylaxis
• users
• Germany
• qualitative

Acknowledgments

The findings of this study have been presented at the Annual Congress of the German Society of Social Medicine and Prevention (Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Sozialmedizin und Praevention) in Dresden in September 2018. Contributions: ASP designed the study, collected, analysed and interpreted the data and wrote the manuscript. CA contributed to designing the study, and to analysing and interpreting the data. MMM supported with translation from German to English and revised writing and tables. All authors reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript. Ethical approval: Ethics Committee of the University of Regensburg, Germany. Project number: 18-934-101. Patient consent: Obtained.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

The study was conducted as part of a doctoral thesis (MD).