Table 3. Experiences with PrEP initiation and/or monitoring before and after launch of PrEP-OI.
| Theme | Sub-theme | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Experiences with PrEP initiation &/or monitoring before launch of PrEP-OI | Initiation | Lack of time |
| Lack of knowledge & comfort | ||
| Lack of insurance & pharmacy issues | ||
| Follow-up | Lack of time | |
| Reactive follow-up | ||
| No clinical support to provide PrEP | ||
| Lack of method to contact patients | ||
| Experiences with PrEP initiation &/or monitoring after launch of PrEP-OI | Awareness | PC is a conduit & opens lines of communication when patient is ready to start PrEP |
| PC has more time to talk to patient about PrEP & provides more attention | ||
| PC can educate patients & update providers & staff | ||
| Screening | PC can provide risk/benefit analysis | |
| Patients more likely to disclose sexual practices to PC | ||
| PC can review new risk factors | ||
| Linkage | PC is support & resource for providers, so that they can focus on the medical issues | |
| PC facilitates conversations between provider & experts | ||
| PC connects patients to provider & allows for continuity of PrEP care | ||
| PC supports providers who are unfamiliar by sharing responsibility of patient care | ||
| PC reduces provider worry because they know that PC is tracking patients | ||
| PC brings importance of PrEP to forefront | ||
| Initiation | PC helps with prior authorizations, insurance, & pharmacy issues | |
| Faster PrEP starts | ||
| PC identifies & outreaches to PrEP candidates so there are more PrEP starts | ||
| PC provides better panel management to identify those fallen out of care | ||
| Providers do not need to refer patients to other clinics anymore | ||
| Adherence & Retention | PC ensures med-taking & better retention in care | |
| PC provides quarterly management by ordering labs, helping with STI screen, refilling PrEP, sending reminders | ||
| PC tracks & reaches out to patients due to organized & proactive follow-up, which allows for safety net to patients to prevent falling out of care | ||
| PC outreaches via texting which increases access to patients especially those who are hard to reach |
PC: PrEP Coordinator; PrEP-OI: Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Optimization Intervention; STI: sexually transmitted infection