Extended twin study of alcohol use in Virginia and Australia

Drinking alcohol is a normal behavior in many societies, and prior studies have demonstrated it has both genetic and environmental sources of variation. Using two very large samples of twins and their first-degree relatives (Australia ≈ 20,000 individuals from 8,019 families; Virginia ≈ 23,000 from 6,042 families), we examine whether there are differences: (1) in the genetic and environmental factors that influence four interrelated drinking behaviors (quantity, frequency, age of initiation, and number of drinks in the last week), (2) between the twin-only design and the extended twin design, and (3) the Australian and Virginia samples. We find that while drinking behaviors are interrelated, there are substantial differences in the genetic and environmental architectures across phenotypes. Specifically, drinking quantity, frequency, and number of drinks in the past week have large broad genetic variance components, and smaller but significant environmental variance components, while age of onset is driven exclusively by environmental factors. Further, the twin-only design and the extended twin design come to similar conclusions regarding broad-sense heritability and environmental transmission, but the extended twin models provide a more nuanced perspective. Finally, we find a high level of similarity between the Australian and Virginian samples, especially for the genetic factors. The observed differences, when present, tend to be at the environmental level. Implications for the extended twin model and future directions are discussed

Monitoring HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake in Australia. Issue #4, June 2021

Description: This report uses data extracted from every PrEP prescription supplied in Australia through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2021. Data are presented on the total number of people who have ever initiated PBS-subsidised PrEP, as well as the number of people dispensed PrEP within each quarter. These data are disaggregated by age, and by state or territory of patient residence. This report also includes a section investigating the effect of COVID-19-related lockdowns on presents monthly dispensing data by jurisdiction since COVID-19-related lockdowns began

Monitoring HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake in Australia: Issue #7, October 2022

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) on 1 April 2018. The PBS subsidises the cost of PrEP for people eligible for Medicare in Australia. The cost to the patient for 30 pills as of June 2022 was $42.50 for general patients and$6.80 for concession card holders. This report uses data from every PBS-subsidised PrEP prescription that was dispensed in Australia between 1 April 2018 and 30 June 2022. The deidentified data incorporate unique codes for linking individuals. Variables include patient details (age, sex, postcode of residence, concession status), information about dispensing (date of dispensing, quantity dispensed), and prescriber details (postcode, specialty). Data are presented on the total number of people who have ever initiated PBSsubsidised PrEP, as well as the number of people dispensed PrEP within each quarter, and within the past 12 months. These data are disaggregated by age, and by state or territory of patient residence, and presented as population rates. This report also includes a section investigating the effect of COVID-19-related lockdowns on monthly dispensing data by jurisdiction

Monitoring HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake in Australia: Issue #8, May 2023

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) on 1 April 2018. The PBS subsidises the cost of PrEP for people eligible for Medicare in Australia. The cost to the patient for 30 pills as of May 2023 was $30.00 for general patients and$7.30 for concession card holders. This report uses data from every PBS-subsidised PrEP prescription that was dispensed in Australia between 1 April 2018 and 31 December 2022. The de-identified data incorporate unique codes for linking individuals. Variables include patient details (age, sex, postcode of residence, concession status), information about dispensing (date of dispensing, quantity dispensed), and prescriber details (postcode, specialty). Data are presented on the total number of people who have ever initiated PBS-subsidised PrEP, as well as the number of people dispensed PrEP within each quarter, and within the past 12 months. These data are disaggregated by age, and by state or territory of patient residence, and presented as population rates. This report also includes a section investigating the effect of COVID-19-related lockdowns on monthly dispensing data by jurisdiction

Why sexual health clinics are important in the 2020s

To make services more accessible, acceptable and affordable, sexual health service delivery models have embraced innovation, technology, outreach and decentralisation. In particular, some routine high-volume services, like asymptomatic testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), can be delivered in general practice, online or in non-clinical settings. On the surface, sexual health clinics, like hospitals or other primary care clinics, might appear to be operating on a model that has not changed significantly in recent times. However, globally sexual healthcare needs are rising both in volume and complexity, not all of which can be adequately met through decentralised care. Sexual health clinics themselves are the site of considerable innovation. The importance of sexual health clinics in the diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic STIs is likely to increase with the increasing burden of disease, the complexity of treatment guidelines and the emergence of new infections. Services essential to patient health such as immediate or complex clinical care, partner notification and safeguarding, and activities essential to the health system like research, training and supervision require expertise to be located where it can be accessed and maintained at reasonable cost. We do not know whether increasing some services outside existing models can safely compensate for reducing other services inside them

Patient-centred approaches to providing care at HIV diagnosis: perspectives from healthcare and peer-support workers

Background. Early uptake of HIV treatment among those newly diagnosed with HIV can improve individual health and prevent onward transmission. Patient-centred care is considered an important aspect in health care, the management of HIV, and can improve uptake of and adherence to HIV treatments. Methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with sexual health clinicians (n, 10) and HIV support workers (n, 4) to understand how they approached HIV diagnosis delivery and care immediately thereafter. Results. Our thematic analysis identified three themes: (1) centring patient needs at diagnosis; (2) assessing patients’ readiness to begin treatment; and (3) referrals to psychosocial support services. Our findings highlight centring patients was an important aspect of how participants delivered HIV diagnoses. By taking this approach, clinicians were best able to consider patient readiness to initiate treatment and referrals to social support services. Conclusions. Given HIV diagnoses are increasingly occurring in generalist health services, our findings offer an important opportunity to learn from the experiences of specialist sexual health clinicians and HIV support workers