Usability, acceptability, and self-reported impact of an innovative hepatitis C risk reduction intervention for men have sex with men: A mixed methods study

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination among men who have sex with men (MSM) is unlikely to be feasible without effective behavioural interventions. We developed a multilevel intervention to reduce HCV transmission among MSM in Amsterdam. The intervention includes a toolbox to facilitate risk reduction among MSM and support health care professionals in risk reduction counselling. To assess the use of the toolbox and its impact on behavior, we conducted a mixed-methods study. We collected data through online questionnaires (n = 49), and in-depth interviews with MSM at risk of HCV (n = 15) and health care professionals (n = 7). We found that the toolbox has been well received by MSM, increased awareness of HCV risks and has facilitated preventive behaviours and risk-reduction communication with peers. Professionals reported the toolbox to be a useful aid for discussions about HCV risk and risk reduction strategies with their clients

Mpox vaccination willingness, determinants, and communication needs in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, in the context of limited vaccine availability in the Netherlands (Dutch Mpox-survey)

IntroductionIn the 2022 multicountry mpox (formerly named monkeypox) outbreak, several countries offered primary preventive vaccination (PPV) to people at higher risk for infection. We study vaccine acceptance and its determinants, to target and tailor public health (communication-) strategies in the context of limited vaccine supply in the Netherlands. MethodsOnline survey in a convenience sample of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, including transgender persons (22/07-05/09/2022, the Netherlands). We assessed determinants for being (un)willing to accept vaccination. We used multivariable multinominal regression and logistic regression analyses, calculating adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95 percent confidence-intervals. An open question asked for campaigning and procedural recommendations. ResultsOf respondents, 81.5% (n = 1,512/1,856) were willing to accept vaccination; this was 85.2% (799/938) in vaccination-eligible people and 77.7% (713/918) in those non-eligible. Determinants for non-acceptance included: urbanization (rural: aOR:2.2;1.2-3.7; low-urban: aOR:2.4;1.4-3.9; vs. high-urban), not knowing mpox-vaccinated persons (aOR:2.4;1.6-3.4), and lack of connection to gay/queer-community (aOR:2.0;1.5-2.7). Beliefs associated with acceptance were: perception of higher risk/severity of mpox, higher protection motivation, positive outcome expectations post vaccination, and perceived positive social norms regarding vaccination. Respondents recommended better accessible communication, delivered regularly and stigma-free, with facts on mpox, vaccination and procedures, and other preventive options. Also, they recommended, "vaccine provision also at non-clinic settings, discrete/anonymous options, self-registration" to be vaccinated and other inclusive vaccine-offers (e.g., also accessible to people not in existing patient-registries). ConclusionIn the public health response to the mpox outbreak, key is a broad and equitable access to information, and to low-threshold vaccination options for those at highest risk. Communication should be uniform and transparent and tailored to beliefs, and include other preventive options. Mpox vaccine willingness was high. Public health efforts may be strengthened in less urbanized areas and reach out to those who lack relevant (community) social network influences

PrEP-dossier : Pre Exposure Profylaxis for hiv-negative individuals in the Netherlands

In October 2016, the Minister for Health, Welfare and Sport requested advice from the Health Council of the Netherlands on the use of medication to prevent HIV infection (pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP) in people with an increased risk of HIV. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) compiled background information to support the Health Council of the Netherlands. Important points in this background information are: HIV continues to be a dangerous viral infection but can be regarded as a chronic disease, provided that it is discovered early on and properly treated. In these cases there is also a very small chance of the virus being transmitted to another individual. HIV transmission can be prevented by condom usage, regular HIV testing and prompt treatment of infection. PrEP is a new method of preventing HIV infection, which involves taking antiviral medication before sexual contact with a (possibly) HIV-positive individual. Healthcare providers determine who is eligible to use PrEP based on a professional guideline on the risk of HIV and sexual behaviour. PrEP is registered and available in the Netherlands, but the high costs of usage and associated healthcare are not covered by insurance. PrEP has been proven to be effective and safe when used properly. Compliance is essential, as is the associated healthcare: anyone using PrEP must be tested for HIV on a regular basis in order to promptly detect (resistant) HIV infections for which the medication is ineffective. Regular liver and kidney function tests are also required, and PrEP users should also undergo regular testing for other sexually transmitted diseases.De minister van VWS heeft in oktober 2016 aan de Gezondheidsraad advies gevraagd over het gebruik van medicijnen om hiv-infecties te voorkomen (Pre-Expositie Profylaxe, ofwel PrEP) bij personen met een verhoogd risico op hiv. Om de Gezondheidsraad te ondersteunen heeft het RIVM achtergrondinformatie bijeengebracht. Belangrijke punten daaruit zijn: Hiv blijft een gevaarlijke virusinfectie maar kan als een chronische ziekte beschouwd worden, mits het vroegtijdig wordt ontdekt en op een juiste wijze wordt behandeld. In deze gevallen is er ook een zeer beperkte kans dat het virus op een andere persoon wordt overgedragen. Besmettingen met hiv zijn te voorkomen door condoomgebruik, regelmatig testen op hiv en een snelle behandeling van een infectie. PrEP is een middel om een hiv-infectie te voorkomen. Dit middel wordt geslikt vóórdat seksueel contact plaatsvindt met een (mogelijk) met hiv geïnfecteerd persoon. Op basis van een professionele richtlijn over het risico op hiv en seksueel gedrag bepalen zorgverleners wie ervoor in aanmerking komt. PrEP is geregistreerd en beschikbaar in Nederland, maar de (hoge) kosten voor gebruik en zorg worden niet vergoed. PrEP is bewezen effectief en veilig als het goed gebruikt wordt. Therapietrouw is essentieel, net als de juiste zorg eromheen: de gebruiker van PrEP moet regelmatig getest worden op hiv om resistente hiv-infecties, waartegen het middel dus niet werkt, tijdig op te sporen. Daarnaast moet regelmatig worden gecontroleerd of lever en nieren nog goed functioneren. Verder moeten PrEP-gebruikers zich regelmatig op andere seksueel overdraagbare aandoeningen laten testen.Ministerie van VW

PrEP-dossier : Pre-Expositie Profylaxe voor hiv-negatieven in Nederland

In October 2016, the Minister for Health, Welfare and Sport requested advice from the Health Council of the Netherlands on the use of medication to prevent HIV infection (pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP) in people with an increased risk of HIV. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) compiled background information to support the Health Council of the Netherlands. Important points in this background information are: HIV continues to be a dangerous viral infection but can be regarded as a chronic disease, provided that it is discovered early on and properly treated. In these cases there is also a very small chance of the virus being transmitted to another individual. HIV transmission can be prevented by condom usage, regular HIV testing and prompt treatment of infection. PrEP is a new method of preventing HIV infection, which involves taking antiviral medication before sexual contact with a (possibly) HIV-positive individual. Healthcare providers determine who is eligible to use PrEP based on a professional guideline on the risk of HIV and sexual behaviour. PrEP is registered and available in the Netherlands, but the high costs of usage and associated healthcare are not covered by insurance. PrEP has been proven to be effective and safe when used properly. Compliance is essential, as is the associated healthcare: anyone using PrEP must be tested for HIV on a regular basis in order to promptly detect (resistant) HIV infections for which the medication is ineffective. Regular liver and kidney function tests are also required, and PrEP users should also undergo regular testing for other sexually transmitted diseases

Internet-guided HCV-RNA testing: A promising tool to achieve hepatitis C micro-elimination among men who have sex with men

In the Netherlands, hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission occurs primarily in men who have sex with men (MSM). By early diagnosis and immediate treatment of acute HCV infections, HCV micro-elimination in MSM is within reach. In cooperation with the community affected, we developed an online HCV-RNA home-based self-sampling test service. This service combined online HCV self-risk assessment with the possibility to test anonymously for HCV-RNA. The service was available in the Netherlands from February 2018 till December 2020 and was promoted online on various dating sites and offline by community volunteers. Using website user data, test results and an online post-test user survey, we evaluated the service and user experiences. The website page with information about testing was visited by 3401 unique users, of whom 2250 used the HCV-risk assessment tool, 152 individuals purchased 194 HCV-RNA tests, and 104 tests were used, of which 101 gave a conclusive result. The target population of MSM at risk was successfully reached with 44.1% of users receiving the advice to test. The test service had a satisfactory uptake (6.8%, 152/2250), a very high HCV-RNA positivity rate (10.9%, 11/101) and was considered acceptable and easy to use by most MSM. We demonstrate that an HCV-RNA home-based self-sampling test service is successful in diagnosing HCV infections among MSM. This service could be a valuable addition to existing sexual healthcare services as it may reach men who are otherwise not tested

PrEP Interest Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in the Netherlands: Covariates and Differences Across Samples

Despite increased availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), PrEP uptake has remained low. To promote uptake, factors related to PrEP interest among relevant target populations warrant investigation. The aim of this study was to provide an analysis of PrEP interest among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Netherlands, while taking study recruitment strategies into account. We recruited 154 MSM from an LGBT research panel (AmsterdamPinkPanel) and 272 MSM from convenience sampling. Both samples were part of the Flash! PrEP in Europe Survey and were compared on their PrEP interest, usage intentions, and sexual behavior. We conducted logistic regression analyses to discover variables associated with PrEP interest and intentions. Participants from the AmsterdamPinkPanel were less likely to use PrEP, had less knowledge of PrEP, and were less interested in PrEP than participants from convenience sampling. Significant covariates of PrEP interest were being single, more prior PrEP knowledge, sexual risk behaviors, such as not having used a condom during last sex and having ever used drugs in a sexual context, and not participating in the AmsterdamPinkPanel. Adding the recruitment strategy to the regression increased explained variance on top of predictors already described in the literature. Increased sexual risk behavior is related to increased PrEP interest and it helps to identify PrEP target groups. Recruitment strategies have a substantial impact on findings regarding PrEP interest and usage intentions. This study emphasizes the importance of using multiple strategies for recruiting participants to obtain a more comprehensive view of MSM’s attitudes toward PrEP

Mpox vaccination willingness, determinants, and communication needs in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, in the context of limited vaccine availability in the Netherlands (Dutch Mpox-survey).

Of respondents, 81.5% (n = 1,512/1,856) were willing to accept vaccination; this was 85.2% (799/938) in vaccination-eligible people and 77.7% (713/918) in those non-eligible. Determinants for non-acceptance included: urbanization (rural: aOR:2.2;1.2-3.7; low-urban: aOR:2.4;1.4-3.9; vs. high-urban), not knowing mpox-vaccinated persons (aOR:2.4;1.6-3.4), and lack of connection to gay/queer-community (aOR:2.0;1.5-2.7). Beliefs associated with acceptance were: perception of higher risk/severity of mpox, higher protection motivation, positive outcome expectations post vaccination, and perceived positive social norms regarding vaccination. Respondents recommended better accessible communication, delivered regularly and stigma-free, with facts on mpox, vaccination and procedures, and other preventive options. Also, they recommended, "vaccine provision also at non-clinic settings, discrete/anonymous options, self-registration" to be vaccinated and other inclusive vaccine-offers (e.g., also accessible to people not in existing patient-registries)