What’s Trending on Twitter Regarding the Most Recently Approved Oral Agent for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)?

Abstract

Introduction: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a key therapeutic strategy for HIV prevention. Descovy® is the most recently approved oral agent for PrEP. Despite availability, there continues to be suboptimal PrEP use among at-risk individuals. Social media platforms have a role in disseminating health information, to include education on PrEP. Material and methods: A content analysis was conducted of “tweets” posted on Twitter® during the initial year of Descovy’s FDA approval for PrEP. The coding schema captured content related to the indication, appropriate use, costs, and safety profile of Descovy. Results: Most tweets provided information on target population, dosing strategy, and side effects of Descovy. Information on costs and appropriate use was frequently missing. Conclusion: Health educators and providers should be aware of gaps in social media messaging concerning PrEP and should educate patients to ensure they are well informed when considering PrEP.

Keywords

• HIV prevention, social media, content analysis, pre-exposure prophylaxis, Descovy