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Majority of Italian HIV specialists would prescribe PrEP
Gus Cairns, 2013-05-21 11:10:00
Seventy per cent of Italian HIV specialists who answered an online survey would prescribe pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to people in their care who ask for it, at least in some circumstances, a study has found.
The survey uncovered considerable training needs around PrEP. Most specialists described their knowledge of PrEP as “not detailed”. Most said they wanted a multi-centre effectiveness trial and national guidelines on PrEP in Italy.
Despite the majority indicating willingness to prescribe PrEP, most specialists were concerned about its efficacy, potential toxicity, impact on behaviour and cost and the vast majority believed that improved testing and treatment for people with HIV was a more effective preventive measure than PrEP.
The 30% who said they would not prescribe PrEP under any circumstances were particularly concerned about side-effects, and over half were worried that PrEP could be used by people as a false reassurance, as a substitute for testing for HIV. They were also considerably more likely to believe that behavioural interventions such as safer-sex counselling were more effective in preventing HIV than PrEP – although this belief was widely shared amongst those who would prescribe PrEP too.
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