Gay Men’s Understanding and Education of New HIV Prevention Technologies in Vancouver, Canada
Date
2017
Authors
Klassen, Benjamin J.
Lachowsky, Nathan J.
Lin, Sally Yue
Edward, Joshua B.
Chown, Sarah A.
Hogg, Robert S.
Moore, David M.
Roth, Eric A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Qualitative Health Research
Abstract
Effective rollout of HIV treatment-based prevention such as pre-exposure prophylaxis and
Treatment as Prevention has been hampered by poor education, limited acceptability, and stigma
among gay men. We undertook a thematic analysis regarding the education sources and
acceptability of these New Prevention Technologies (NPTs) using fifteen semi-structured interviews with gay men in Vancouver, Canada who were early adopters of NPTs. NPT education
was derived from a variety of sources, including the Internet, healthcare providers, community
organizations, sexual partners, and peers; participants also emphasized their own capacities as
learners and educators. Acceptable forms of NPT education featured high-quality factual
information, personal testimony, and easy access. Stigma was highlighted as a major barrier. In
order for public health, policy makers, and gay communities to optimize the personal and
population benefits of NPTs, there is a need for increased community support and dialogue, antistigma
efforts, early NPT adopter testimony, and personalized implementation strategies.
Description
The authors would like to thank the Momentum Health Study participants, office staff and community advisory
board, as well as our community partner agencies, Health Initiative for Men, YouthCO HIV & Hep C Society, and
Positive Living Society of BC.
Keywords
pre-exposure prophylaxis, post-exposure prophylaxis, gay and bisexual men, health education, HIV prevention, qualitative, thematic analysis, Canada
Citation
Klassen, B. J., Lachowsky, N. J., Lin, S. Y., Edward, J. B., Chown, S. A., Hogg, R. S., Moore, D. M., & Roth, E. A. (2017). “Gay Men’s Understanding and Education of New HIV Prevention Technologies in Vancouver, Canada.” Qualitative Health Research, 27(12), 1775–1791. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732317716419