Quantify the impact of an online Virtual Community of Practice (VCoP) to increase pharmacist knowledge and accelerate provision of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention.
Communities of practice unite individuals and provide opportunity to share knowledge, develop skills, and reduce isolation. We will conduct a Type 3 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial to evaluate implementation outcomes (e.g. acceptability, feasibility, and adoption) and effectiveness (e.g. number of PrEP initiations). The primary outcome will compare time to first PrEP prescription among 180 pharmacies randomized to an enhanced standard of care arm plus or minus VCoP access. We hypothesize that pharmacies with VCoP access will create their programs and provide their first oral PrEP prescriptions in less time than pharmacies without VCoP access.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
500
Healthcare communities of practice (CoPs) are becoming increasingly popular. CoPs unite individuals with common interests and provide opportunity to collaboratively learn and develop skills to improve professional practice, and reduce isolation. CoPs can play a role when educational needs cannot be satisfied by traditional methods. With advances in technology and the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual communities of practice (VCoPs) have spread across the globe. One of the primary benefits of online VCoPs is expanded potential for professional development and remote networking. VCoP members can use asynchronous communication to develop relationships and learn from peers who have experience with laws, policies, insurance companies and other healthcare institutions across the U.S. This education and peer support provided by VCoPs could be particularly beneficial for pharmacists in rural areas or in EHE jurisdictions without access to similar resources as academic or urban pharmacists.
A self-guided business and program planning. This arm will be sent a syllabus introducing them to the six-month business and program plan. Assignments will be delivered every other week, focusing on clinical, epidemiological, and business related educational tasks to be completed to prepare pharmacist to offer PrEP. The study team will be available for email assistance.
Time to first PrEP prescription
Time to first PrEP prescription by participating pharmacists as self-reported.
Time frame: for 2 years from participant enrollment.
PrEP Clinics Started
Total number of PrEP Clinics started by participants
Time frame: within 2 years of participant enrollment
Total numbers of PrEP prescriptions initiated
Total numbers of PrEP prescriptions initiated by participants
Time frame: within 2 years of participant enrollment
characteristics of PrEP patients
characteristics of PrEP patients
Time frame: 2 years post-enrollment
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.