Developing the PATH-GP (Prevention and Testing for HIV in General Practice) intervention: a person-based approach...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• General Practice
• HIV Prevention

Background:

• HIV testing, treatment linkage, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are crucial for early diagnosis and prevention.
• General practice settings offer significant potential for increasing HIV testing and PrEP accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an intervention aimed at enhancing HIV testing rates and facilitating PrEP access within general practice settings.

Main Methods:

• A person-based approach (PBA) intervention development study was conducted in South West England.
• Methods included a scoping review, semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals (HCPs) and local representatives, and focus groups with HCPs and the public.
• Data analysis utilized the PBA framework and a pragmatic qualitative approach.

Main Results:

• Identified barriers included limited clinician knowledge, resource constraints, and unsystematic testing protocols.
• Proposed solutions involved simplifying testing to reduce stigma and developing a multicomponent intervention.
• The intervention comprises education, testing prompts, streamlined testing processes, PrEP signposting, patient information, and practice champions.

Conclusions:

• Further research is required to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of this intervention in general practice.
• Addressing funding barriers is also essential for successful implementation and wider adoption.