Examining the Potential of Pharmacies to Expand Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Access Along Georgia's Fixed-Route Public Transit : A Geospatial Analysis

Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc..

BACKGROUND: Despite accounting for more than half of new Human Immunodeficiency Virus diagnoses in the United States, the South has fewer than 30% of all pre-exposure prophylaxis users. Pre-exposure prophylaxis access geospatial analyses have focused on drive time but analyses along public transit routes have not been evaluated. Given the proximity to pharmacists and pharmacies, involvement in pre-exposure prophylaxis services may increase access and uptake of this preventative health need.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives were to compare the rate of pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake between Georgia counties with and without public transit, to assess the geospatial accessibility of services along public transit, and to evaluate the potential impact of expanding pre-exposure prophylaxis services to community pharmacies.

METHODS: Pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake rates between counties with and without public transit were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Geospatial analysis was performed using ArcGIS Pro and Geoda. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake rates and population and county characteristics. Spatial analysis was completed to uncover predictors for pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake rates. Increased access to pre-exposure prophylaxis along public transit was calculated by reporting the number of counties that would experience at least a 50% increase in pre-exposure prophylaxis access through community pharmacies.

RESULTS: Pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake is significantly higher in Georgia counties with versus without public transit (P < 0.001). Pre-exposure prophylaxis rate is positively correlated with the accessibility of community pharmacies and pre-exposure prophylaxis clinics along fixed-route public transit (R2 = 0.524). Among pre-exposure prophylaxis clinics, 44% are inaccessible by public transit alone. Community pharmacies are significantly more widely distributed and accessible along public transit routes than pre-exposure prophylaxis clinics.

CONCLUSION: Transportation remains a barrier to accessing pre-exposure prophylaxis. Georgia community pharmacies along public transit may serve as a solution to pre-exposure prophylaxis care access barriers.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - year:2024

Enthalten in:

Journal of the American Pharmacists Association : JAPhA - (2024) vom: 05. Apr., Seite 102087

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Gomez, Bryan [VerfasserIn]
Roozkhosh, Farnoosh [VerfasserIn]
Yao, Angela [VerfasserIn]
Chastain, Daniel B [VerfasserIn]
Johnson, Blake R [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Collaborative practice
Community pharmacy
Health care access
Journal Article
Pre-exposure prophylaxis

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 07.04.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status Publisher

doi:

10.1016/j.japh.2024.102087

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM370731182