HIV Prevention in General Practice (PrEP, PEP, condoms, testing and treatment)

Many patients at risk of HIV (e.g., men who have sex with men or those how travel to high HIV prevalence countries) regularly attend General Practice for a broad range of health conditions which gives GP unique opportunities to prevent transmission in the community.

This podcast features two GPs Dr Michael Burke and Dr Miriam Grotowski and a community representative Jimmy Yu Hsiang Chen to inform GPs when and how to offer testing, PrEP, PEP for HIV utilising evidence-based guidelines and extensive practice experience. Assessing HIV risk part of sexual health prevention activities detailed in the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice. 9th edn, updated. East Melbourne, Vic: RACGP, 2018. (last update 08-12-2021).

The panelists discuss: • How to recognise at-risk patient groups for HIV/STI testing • Identify challenges and solutions for discussing and providing HIV prevention in General Practice • What tailored GP tools and resources can make HIV prevention in General Practice faster and easier.

Helpful links:

Sexual Health Infolink (SHIL) https://www.shil.nsw.gov.au/ SHIL’s aim is to promote the sexual health of the NSW community through providing accurate and timely information and referral options. The service specialises in HIV and STI risk assessment, testing, treatment and support. SHIL also provide specialist support to nurses, doctors, counsellors and other professionals who are caring for people with sexual health problems and are open from 9:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).

ASHM Decision Making in PrEP tool https://www.ashm.org.au/resources/decision-making-in-prep/ This 2-page Decision Making in PrEP tool provides a prescribing pathway which summarises the key eligibility and recommended assessment for primary care providers in Australia who wish to prescribe PrEP and the ongoing patient education and monitoring requirements.

NSW Sexual Health Clinics finder: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/sexualhealth/Pages/sexual-health-clinics.aspx

RACGP On-demand webinar PrEP webinar https://www.racgp.org.au/racgp-digital-events-calendar/online-event-items/on-demand/prep-prescribing-for-gps This 1 hour CDP endorsed webinar teaches the 5 steps all GPs can use to use quickly, safely and easily to prevent HIV infection.

Australian STI Management Guidelines for Use in Primary Care https://sti.guidelines.org.au/ The Guidelines are an online resource for primary care health professionals. They provide concise information to support the prevention, testing, diagnosis, management and treatment of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) for adults and adolescents and are frequently cited and referenced by other guidelines.

The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)– Free to GPs https://www.tisnational.gov.au/ The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) is an interpreting service provided by the Department of Home Affairs for people who do not speak English. The TIS National immediate phone interpreting service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year for the cost of a local call for any person or organisation in Australia who needs an interpreter just call 131 450.