%0 Journal Article
%T Assessment of PrEP and PEP furnishing in San Francisco Bay Area pharmacies; an observational cross-sectional study.
%A Herron G
%A Leong A
%A Patel K
%A Rasekhi K
%A Apollonio DE
%J J Am Pharm Assoc (2003)
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 Aug 1
%M 39097189
暂无%R 10.1016/j.japh.2024.102201
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Over 1 million people in the US are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). As of 2021, pharmacists in California can prescribe PrEP and PEP without establishing a collaborative practice agreement in an effort to reduce HIV transmission. However, in 2021 less than 3% of independent pharmacies in the San Francisco Bay Area did so. To our knowledge, there has been no follow-up research assessing potential changes in PrEP/PEP furnishing rates in the region.<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B>Assess the extent of PrEP/PEP furnishing in San Francisco Bay Area pharmacies 3 years after policy implementation.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study to identify independent community and mail-order pharmacies furnishing PrEP/PEP in the 9-county San Francisco Bay Area in 2024. Furnishing pharmacies were identified via phone calls and the findings were validated with in-person visits. We also identified the number of retail chain pharmacies furnishing PrEP/PEP in San Francisco County.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>We contacted 202 independent community and mail order pharmacies in the 9-county San Francisco Bay Area by telephone; of these, 16 reported furnishing PEP/PrEP and all confirmed their ability to furnish when visited in person. We contacted 67 retail chain pharmacies in San Francisco County; of these, 11 pharmacies reported furnishing PrEP/PEP (10 Safeway; 1 Walgreens).<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>More pharmacies furnished PrEP/PEP in the 9-county San Francisco Bay Area in 2024 (8%) than in 2021 (3%); in addition, one retail chain pharmacy had instituted a furnishing protocol. However, furnishing rates remained low. Past research suggests that advertising and the development of furnishing protocols may help increase furnishing and increase medication access.