The Two-Door Approach: Enhancing PrEP Uptake with the HIV/PrEP Toolkit

In 2022, over 38,000 new HIV infections were diagnosed in the United States disproportionately affecting non-dominant racial and ethnic populations and Southern United States. While pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is 99% effective, uptake of this regimen remains low, mainly owing to structural barriers, stigma, and perceived and actual discomfort among providers. This problem presents the <u>PrEP/HIV Toolkit (see www.grlgbtqhealthcareconsortium.org/toolkit</u>) as a novel, equity-focused solution for scaling up HIV prevention. The toolkit was designed with a "two-door" approach, with each "door" tailored to health care providers and community members information needs, facilitating a two-way exchange of information, and empowerment. By integrating evidence-based resource decision-support tools, and stigma-reducing messaging, the toolkit achieves its goal to dismantle barriers to PrEP access. It also leverages QR code-sharing functionality to optimize accessibility and fill information gaps between parties. Since its launch on September 28, 2024, the toolkit has demonstrated international reach, with users in 97 countries and all 50 U.S. states represented. Future directions include refining accessibility features, intensifying partnerships with health care payers and policymakers, and integrating best-practice alerts for use in any electronic health record software. This toolkit is an actionable, scalable solution to improve PrEP uptake and reduce new HIV infections by promoting informed, stigma-free discussions in both clinical and community environments.