AUTHOR=Godinez Hector , Xu Qing , McMann Tiana J. , Li Jiawei , Mackey Timothy Ken 

TITLE=Analysis of online user discussions on Reddit associated with the transition of use between HIV PrEP therapy

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1073813

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1073813

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved emtricitabine & tenofovir alafenamide (Descovy) as another option for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) prevention for high-risk adults and adolescents. The objective of this study was to conduct a descriptive analysis to characterize user-generated social media conversations on Reddit associated with FDA approved PrEP prevention treatment options. Key themes identified were associated with perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes associated with the transition of use of different PrEP medications. Data was collected from Reddit from October 2020 to December 2020. Posts were then manually annotated for key themes regarding the transition of use and other emergent themes. A total of 3,120 posts were analyzed from Reddit resulting in 315 posts coded for PrEP and 105 posts (33.33%) specific to user discussions regarding transition of PrEP prevention. Overall, users expressed interest in switching to Descovy, particularly in the context of poorer adherence or concerns of existing side effects associated with Truvada.  Other major themes included discussions about the cost of Descovy, apprehension about side effects compared to Truvada, insurance coverage changes, and discussions about donation of Truvada to other users after transitioning. Among these discussions, topics related to sexual minorities, including men who have sex with men (MSM), reported concerns when considering a switch in their HIV prevention regime.  Results support the use social media from a digital pharmacovigilance perspective, to better understand emerging HIV prevention, treatment, and adherence challenges experienced by patients.