Queensland Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Demonstration Project (QPrEPd)

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Initiative Type
Research
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Summary

Clinical trials have shown that taking Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) everyday along with using other HIV prevention measures like condoms and regular HIV and STI screening is the best way to reduce a person’s chance of acquiring HIV. The purpose of the QPrEPd study is to examine the results of these PrEP clinical trials in the 'real world' setting to show that PrEP is a feasible, safe and effective method for reducing the risk of HIV acquisition in the Queensland community. The QPrEPd study aims to investigate how PrEP can be provided to HIV negative people through general practitioners and sexual health clinics in Queensland, whether HIV negative people will find PrEP and if it is delivered in an acceptable manner through the project.

The project was a finalist at the 2017 Queensland Health Awards for Excellence.

Key dates
Nov 2016
Jun 2020
Implementation sites
Brisbane(8), Ipswich, Toowoomba(2), Gold Coast(2), Sunshine Coast(2), Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns(4), Mt Isa
Partnerships
Queensland AIDS Council (QuAC), University of Queensland (UQ)

Aim

Offer Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for Queenslanders at high risk of HIV.

Benefits

Allows someone who is HIV negative to take HIV medication, which prevents the virus becoming established.

Reduces rates of HIV transmission in Queensland.

Background

The original QPrEPd study began in September 2015 and made PrEP available to 50 people across Queensland. In April 2016, the Queensland Government announced $6 million dollars in funding over four years to expand the study to 2,000 participants. In November 2017, the Queensland Government announced a further expansion of the project adding 1000 additional participants.

Solutions Implemented

The listing of HIV PrEP medications on the PBS in April 2018 now allows any doctor / general practitioner to prescribe the medication approved by the Therapeutic Goods Authority (TGA) for use as PrEP in Australia.

Evaluation and Results

  • Queensland is decentralised with 50 per cent of the population living outside the state capital and 25 per cent outside of the south eastern region. This population distribution is reflected in HIV diagnoses with 24 per cent of new diagnoses in 2015 coming from health service areas outside of the south east.
  • Rapid customisation of a web-based database to support data collection for participants, medication supply management and strong quality assurance processes.
  • Site assessments and staff training took more than a month to complete.
  • The project expansion went live as scheduled in November 2016, and has expanded to 23 sites.

Lessons Learnt

Managing the supply chain logistics to support provision of a free drug at study sites for a ’one stop shop’ experience for participants required a tailored approach for each site.

Further Reading

QPrepd project website

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Key contact

Michael Rodriguez
Research Data Manager
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service
(07) 4226 4769
michael.rodriguez2@health.qld.gov.au

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