Table 2.

Technical and Social Considerations Underlying Health Care Provider Preferences for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Implant Attributes

Attributes	Technical considerations	Social considerations	Overall HCP preferences
Duration	Longer for less burden on health care system to provide.	Longer for less burden on patients to visit health facilities and adhere to a frequent dosing schedule.	Long duration matters more than size of implant or number of rods Minimum duration: 3 months Ideal duration: 3 years
Biodegradability	Biodegradable to reduce burden on health care system (less time required to remove implants). Biodegradable to avoid removal technique (challenging for some HCPs) and specialized training required.	Biodegradable to reduce burden on user to return to clinic for another visit. Biodegradable to counter negative community perception of removal procedure; may require more education for community to understand this concept.	Biodegradable to avoid technical challenges with removal, reduce burden on clinic to train and offer removal services, and reduce burden on patient to return to clinic for removal procedure.
Palpability	Must be palpable (or detectable in alternate way) such that it can be removed if necessary: safety concern from medical standpoint.	Nonpalpable to untrained people, such that it can be used discreetly (to partners, community, family) by end-user if desired.	Mixed: medium palpability Should be palpable to trained professionals for removal if necessary (or detectable in an alternate way), but also be nonpalpable so it can be used discreetly by end-user.
Location on body	Easily accessible by HCP for insertion and removal. Should not interfere with drug PK/PD in body.	Should be in a hidden, discreet location so can be used discreetly if desired.	Arm, thigh, or abdomen/side preferred to meet both technical and social requirements.
Applicator	Easy to use. Inserts at correct depth under skin. Safely inserts implant such that rod will not break during insertion.	Acceptable to end-users, as some users watch the insertion procedure and may see the applicator.	Easy to use; inserts implant safely at correct depth under skin.

HCP, health care provider; PD, pharmacodynamics; PK, pharmacokinetics.