Although African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) patients make up only 4.7% of Ontario’s population, they represent 30% of Canada’s population living with HIV, and 25% of all new HIV cases in Canada. Rates of new HIV infections can be brought down with HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication that has proven extremely effective at preventing HIV infections when it is taken correctly. Unfortunately, PrEP uptake remains insufficient, especially amongst at-risk individuals. Moreover, most research concerning PrEP tends to focus on improving adherence to PrEP and little is known about the decisions ACB patients make while they are considering whether to start a PrEP regimen. 

To fill in this gap, the Decision Support Study was launched. This study is focused on investigating the decisional needs and processes of ACB patients through a two-arm process. In Phase I, 30 ACB participants who were either interested, uninterested or undecided about starting PrEP were recruited and asked about their concerns, beliefs and decision-making processes about PrEP. This data was recorded and used to adapt the Ottawa Decision Support Framework and design an online intervention that would help ACB patients more easily make informed decisions about PrEP. 

In Phase II of the study, the effectiveness of the decision support intervention will be tested through a randomized control trial. Participants were recruited from patients who would already have been recommended PrEP by their healthcare providers. Afterwards, they will be sorted into an experimental group, which will have access to the decision support intervention, and a control group, which will not. All participants will be given access to a free PrEP prescription. As well, participants will be evaluated for decision conflict, decision readiness and adherence to PrEP after 30 and 60 days.