Ending the HIV Epidemic in the Southeast: Strategies to Increase PrEP Uptake in Rural and Underserved Communities Part 4: Improving the PrEP Care Continuum in People Who Inject Drugs

Target Audience
This activity is designed specifically for primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and other health professionals who serve patients in rural and underserved communities.

Program Overview
Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is widely recognized as an effective method for preventing HIV in at-risk populations, its uptake remains low in rural and underserved communities where stigma surrounding drug use and sexual behaviors is high. Routine HIV testing and risk assessment are therefore critical to identifying individuals at risk for acquiring HIV. In this activity, which is Part 4 of a four-part series titled Ending the HIV Epidemic: Strategies to Increase PrEP Uptake in Rural and Underserved Communities, expert faculty will review best practices for assessing HIV risk as well as key components to providing PrEP, including initiating, monitoring, and supporting adherence. Strategies for addressing stigma and other barriers to implementing PrEP in rural and underserved communities will also be reviewed.

This activity is a recording from a two-part webinar series that took place in March 2022. Please note that any data, information, and guidance presented in the activity are subject to change.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

Identify patients at risk of acquiring HIV through improved risk assessment strategies and effective patient/clinician communication
Apply the latest clinical evidence and treatment recommendations to the management of patients on PrEP
Integrate strategies including telemedicine and team-based care to overcome barriers to PrEP in rural and underserved communities