ABSTRACT
Introduction Online provision of PrEP care could help expand coverage to achieve HIV transmission elimination goals. An online PrEP clinic is being developed in Scotland, consisting of postal self-sampling for STIs and BBVs, an automated online consultation, and remote provision of medication. PrEP users' experiences of telephone-based PrEP care introduced during the Covid pandemic could inform the development of the online PrEP clinic. We explored the acceptability of the online PrEP clinic, drawing on PrEP users' experiences of telephone- based PrEP services. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 GBMSM PrEP users recruited via an urban NHS sexual health service and online cohort (May-December 2021). Glasgow Caledonian University and NHS Scotland granted ethical approval. We used framework thematic analysis to analyse data. Results Participants felt that telephone-based PrEP care often lacked continuity, was burdensome, and felt impersonal. Despite this, participants felt the quality of care remained high and found the system easy to navigate. Participants found the proposed online PrEP clinic highly acceptable and identified potential benefits (e.g. convenience, privacy, and normalising PrEP) and challenges (e.g. fewer opportunities to ask questions and potentially forgetting to complete the self-sampling kit). Participants felt that SMS reminders, a helpline, and the ability to switch to in-person care when needed would support them to self-manage their PrEP care online. Discussion The proposed online PrEP clinic was highly acceptable to GBMSM, but integral support features will be needed to optimise its use, including personalisation and integration within existing care pathways to ensure continuity of care.
ABSTRACT
As part of a research study to examine first-year college students’ preparation for college-level research, students at six U.S. institutions of higher education were surveyed in the spring semester of 2021. The pandemic continued to affect the delivery of information literacy (IL) instruction and library services across the United States throughout the 2020-2021 academic year. When students completed this survey in April and May of 2021, the majority of instructional services were offered in synchronous and asynchronous remote formats. The students' engagement with librarians and librarian-created instructional resources were captured via the survey and analysed to determine whether students were able to leverage these interactions and materials despite the remote contexts. Students who did not interact with an academic librarian were less likely to use library resources, had more problems accessing information, and felt more overwhelmed by the quantity of resources and services offered by the library. Results show that intentional student-librarian interactions are a bridge to the acquisition and development of knowledge practices and dispositions of the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. The findings suggest considerations for moving forward when it comes to communicating with students and delivering IL support in academic libraries around the world as countries emerge from pandemic conditions. © 2022, CILIP Information Literacy Group. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background As sexual healthcare moves online, it's important to understand the needs and preferences of groups with a higher burden of poor sexual health, to ensure equitable services. We explored gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men's [GBMSM] preferences for in-person, telephone, and online provision of sexual healthcare and whether preferences change in the presence of symptoms and/or concerns about STI risk. Methods Cross-sectional online survey of GBMSM in Scotland recruited from sexual-social media 12/2019-03/2020 (pre- Covid-19 pandemic). Participants were asked their preferences (or no preference) for accessing appointment booking, providing sexual/medical history, and accessing HIV/STI results in two scenarios: routine check-up (no symptoms/concerns);and concerned about new symptoms/possible infection. Data were analysed using Pearson chi-squared, McNemar-Bowker, and post-hoc McNemar tests. Results 755 GBMSM participated, median age 39, 71.4% completed higher education, 69.9% were White Scottish. When accessing a routine check-up, proportions preferring in person, telephone and online care respectively were: booking appointments [27/755 (3.6%), 113/755 (15.0%), 520/755 (68.9%)];reporting sexual behaviour [184/748 (24.6%), 39/ 748 (5.2%), 382/748 (51.1%)];reporting symptoms [254/747 (34.0%), 46/747 (6.2%), 308/747 (41.2%)];reporting medication [163/745 (21.9%), 46/745 (6.2%), 358/745 (48.1%)];receiving HIV results [200/699 (28.6%), 73/699 (10.4%), 304/ 699 (43.5%)];receiving STI results [143/746 (19.2%), 96/746 (12.9%), 361/746 (48.4%)]. A significant proportion of participants' preferences changed across all elements of care measured, when concerned about symptoms or infection (p<0.005). Post-hoc analyses suggest that these changes were mostly attributed to a shift in preference from online to inperson care in the presence of symptoms/STI risk. Conclusions In this online-recruited sample of highly educated, older GBMSM, online care was highly acceptable but a significant proportion preferred in-person care in the presence of symptoms/STI risk. Choice in sexual healthcare provision is essential as GBMSM's preferences are not static and appear highly associated with emotional context..