Agreements and Disagreements Between Professionals and Users About the Experience of a #Telehealth Service for #HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (#TelePrEP): Qualitative Interview #Study
Background: Men who have sex with men have a disproportionately high prevalence of #HIV worldwide. In Brazil, men who have sex with men account for over 15% of #HIV cases, substantially higher than the general population prevalence of 0.6%. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a critical bio##Medical strategy for reducing #HIV transmission, yet adherence remains challenging due to stigma, logistical barriers, and the need for regular clinical follow-ups. #TelePrEP, a #Telehealth-based approach to PrEP follow-up, has emerged as a potential solution to improve accessibility and reduce stigma. However, the perspectives of users and #HealthCare providers on this intervention remain understudied in low- and middle-income countries, such as Brazil. Objective: This #Study aims to examine the experiences and perceptions of users and #HealthCare professionals regarding #TelePrEP, an asynchronous remote consultation model, in 5 PrEP services across 3 Brazilian regions (southeast, south, and northeast). Methods: We conducted 19 in-depth interviews with PrEP users (aged between 23 and 58 years) and 6 interviews with #HealthCare professionals (aged between 35 and 61 years). Users were recruited from 5 #Public#HealthCare services, including out##Patient #HIV clinics and testing centers. The interviews explored motivations for PrEP use, experiences with in-person and remote consultations, perceived advantages and disadvantages of #TelePrEP, and overall satisfaction. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo software. Results: Users reported greater convenience, increased autonomy, and reduced stigma, highlighting that the remote consultations eliminated the discomfort of discussing personal topics in person and minimized the need for frequent visits to #HealthCare facilities. Many felt that #TelePrEP simplified #HIV #Prevention, normalized PrEP use, and contributed to more sustainable adherence while also expressing confidence that periodic laboratory testing was sufficient for monitoring their health. Conversely, #HealthCare professionals raised concerns about the loss of personal connection with users, which they perceived as essential for detecting health issues and ensuring PrEP adherence. They also noted that #TelePrEP could hinder the identification of sexually transmitted infections due to the absence of direct clinical assessments, and some questioned whether #TelePrEP compromised the quality of care, fearing that users might delay reporting symptoms or other health concerns. Conclusions: To effectively address the needs of both groups, the successful implementation of #Telehealth PrEP services must consider these differing perceptions. Further #Research is essential to explore implementation in diverse settings and enhance the training of #HealthCare professionals to address the specific requirements of PrEP care.
New in JMIR: Agreements and Disagreements Between Professionals and Users About the Experience of a #Telehealth Service for #HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (#TelePrEP): Qualitative Interview #Study
