iPrEPyouQ study information
Investigating HIV prevention knowledge, attitudes, and practices: informing PrEP access for ‘at risk’ young Queenslanders
Research aims
This research aims to understand the specific facilitators and barriers to awareness, access, and uptake of PrEP among young people to inform the development of appropriate and acceptable models of care and health promotion. This will be done through exploring the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of young people (16-24 years) in Queensland in relation to their knowledge, access, and usage of PrEP. It will also aim to explore the attitudes and experience of Healthcare and service providers who provide and recommend PrEP to young people. To address this aim we are recruiting for the two following studies.
1. Healthcare and service provider survey
The survey will explore healthcare and service providers attitudes, experiences, and concerns about initiating PrEP for young people. It is open for any healthcare professional eligible to prescribe PrEP to young people (16-24 years) as well as non-prescribing healthcare and service professionals who provide PrEP information and support to young people.
2. Interviews with young people (16-24 years) living in Queensland
The interviews are designed to explore young people’s knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to sexual health, HIV prevention and PrEP, along with the barriers and facilitators to access and potential preference for alternative PrEP modalities. We are wanting to recruit young people from priority populations considered at increased risk of HIV (MSM, transgender, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people) in Queensland ages 16-24 years.
3. Survey with young people (16-24 years) living in Australia
The survey will explore the knowledge attitudes and practices with regard to HIV prevention and PrEP of young people from across Queensland. They survey is available to young people aged 16-24 living in Queensland who identify as part of priority population for HIV prevention in Australia (including gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, transgender and gender diverse, culturally diverse, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders) or anyone who considers themselves at risk of HIV.
Planned outcomes
This research will provide critical insights into specific barriers and facilitators young people face in PrEP access and initiation. Outcomes of this research will be used to inform development of appropriate and acceptable focused models of PrEP education and provision for young people with a particular focus on young people under the age of 18 in Australia, thereby providing evidence and strategies to improve long-term health outcomes of young people at risk of HIV infection and reduce the health and economic burdens associated with life-long HIV treatment and care.
Interested to find out more?
For more information contact Sarah Warzywoda (she/her): s.warzywoda@uq.edu.au or Associate Professor Judith Dean (she/her): j.dean4@uq.edu.au