Target Audience

Healthcare professionals.

Educational Need

Despite advances in evidence-based HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention, gaps remain in healthcare providers' knowledge and clinical application of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP). Current clinical guidelines emphasize the importance of routinely obtaining comprehensive, nonjudgmental sexual histories to identify individuals who may benefit from these preventive interventions. However, inconsistent sexual health assessments, limited familiarity with eligibility criteria, and uncertainty regarding prescribing and monitoring protocols can contribute to missed opportunities for prevention. Healthcare providers need education on applying current evidence-based recommendations to assess patient risk, initiate appropriate preventive therapies, conduct recommended laboratory testing, and provide ongoing follow-up to support medication safety, adherence, and effectiveness.

Social, structural, and financial barriers further contribute to disparities in access to HIV and STI prevention services. Stigma, discrimination, insurance limitations, healthcare costs, and unequal access to knowledgeable providers can prevent individuals from receiving appropriate preventive care. These challenges disproportionately affect populations already experiencing higher rates of HIV and STIs. Education is needed to strengthen providers' understanding of these barriers and improve their ability to deliver equitable, patient-centered sexual healthcare. By incorporating current clinical evidence, shared decision-making, and practical strategies for addressing barriers to care, healthcare providers can improve the identification of eligible patients, increase appropriate use of PrEP and Doxy-PEP, and reduce preventable HIV and STI infections.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify patients who may benefit from PrEP and Doxy-PEP through comprehensive, patient-centered sexual health assessments.
2. Describe evidence-based protocols for initiating, prescribing, and monitoring PrEP and Doxy-PEP.
3. Examine the impact of social, structural, and insurance-related barriers on equitable access to HIV and STI prevention services.

Speaker

Katie Imborek, MD (she/her)
Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Iowa Health Care

Dr. Imborek is a Clinical Professor and Vice Chair for Clinical Operations for the Department of Family and Community Medicine at University of Iowa Health Care.  She co-founded the University of Iowa Health Care LGBTQ+ Clinic. She specializes in LGBTQ+ health, HIV prevention, sexual health, and gender-affirming care and has helped expand access to these services across Iowa. Dr. Imborek enjoys teaching learners at all stages of training and is passionate about helping future physicians develop the skills and confidence to provide inclusive, evidence-based care.