1. Effectiveness of onsite and online education in enhancing knowledge and use of human immunodeficiency virus pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis.
- Author
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Shao Y, Zhang M, Sun LJ, Zhang HW, Liu A, Wang X, Xin RL, Li JW, Ye JZ, Gao Y, Wang ZL, Li ZC, and Zhang T
- Abstract
Background: Enhancing awareness and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is vital to curb human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) spread. High-risk behaviors prevalent among sexually transmitted infection clinic outpatients underscore the need for increased PrEP/PEP education in this group., Aim: To investigate the effects of both onsite and online health education on the knowledge of, and willingness to use, PrEP and PEP among individuals receiving PEP services., Methods: Participants were drawn from a cohort study on PEP service intervention at an STD/AIDS outpatient clinic in designated HIV/AIDS hospitals in Beijing, conducted from January 1 to June 30, 2022. Health education was provided both onsite and online during follow-up. Surveys assessing knowledge of, and willingness to use, PrEP/PEP were administered at baseline and again at 24 wk post-intervention., Results: A total of 112 participants were enrolled in the study; 105 completed the follow-up at week 24. The percentage of participants with adequate knowledge of, and willingness to use, PrEP significantly increased from 65.2% and 69.6% at baseline to 83.8% and 82.9% at the end of the intervention (both P < 0.05). Similarly, those with adequate knowledge of, and willingness to use, PEP increased from 74.1% and 77.7% at baseline to 92.4% and 89.5% at week 24 ( P < 0.05). Being between 31 years and 40 years of age, having a postgraduate degree or higher, and reporting a monthly expenditure of RMB 5000 or more were found to be significantly associated with knowledge of PrEP and PEP (both P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The findings show that both onsite and online health education significantly improved the knowledge of, and increased willingness to use, PrEP and PEP in individuals utilizing PEP services., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
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