P-291. College PrEP: Impacts of Targeted Education on Awareness and Engagement in HIV Prevention Services Among Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA)

TL;DR

This study shows that targeted education sessions led by healthcare professionals improve HIV prevention awareness and testing engagement among adolescents and young adults.

Contribution

The study identifies discrepancies between adolescent self-reported and provider-perceived barriers to HIV prevention and evaluates the impact of educational interventions.

Findings

Student knowledge and confidence in HIV prevention significantly improved after the education sessions.

Students prioritized at-home testing and confidentiality as facilitators for HIV/STI testing.

Follow-up surveys showed increased HIV testing rates and provider consultations among students.

Abstract

AYA make up 1 in 5 new HIV diagnoses and have lower testing rates than adults. This project aimed to identify discordances between AYA-reported and provider-perceived barriers to HIV prevention and support engagement in prevention services among AYA in high school/college.Table 1.Demographics of Student Participants in Education Sessions (N = 346).Table 2.Demographics of HCP Participants in Education Sessions (N = 15).

Demographics of Student Participants in Education Sessions (N = 346).

Demographics of HCP Participants in Education Sessions (N = 15).

One-hour education sessions were led virtually or in-person by healthcare professionals and trainees (HCPs) with students at 7 universities and 1 high school in the Southeast US and California (2/2024 – 3/2025). Students and HCPs completed pre- and post-surveys at sessions. Follow-up surveys were sent out 90 days after sessions to assess long-term impacts. Data were analyzed using a Chi-square test.Figure 1.Student self-reported and HCP-perceived challenges to getting tested for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).Figure 2.Student self-reported and HCP-perceived facilitators to HIV/STI testing.

Student self-reported and HCP-perceived challenges to getting tested for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Student self-reported and HCP-perceived facilitators to HIV/STI testing.

In total, 346 students and 15 HCPs attended sessions (Tables 1, 2). On pre-session surveys, only 23% of students had been HIV tested and 8% had discussed pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with a provider. When asked what they perceived as students’ top barriers to HIV/STI testing, HCPs noted cost, fear of judgment in clinics, and finding testing sites. Students reported cost but also anxiety about test procedures/results and fear that others would find out they were tested (Fig 1). When asked what would make testing easier, both groups noted local low/no-cost testing, but students prioritized at-home testing and knowing what to expect during tests (Fig 2). Students said side effects (49%) and cost/insurance coverage (44%) were top barriers to taking PrEP. Student knowledge and confidence improved on post-session surveys vs pre-session: higher proportions reported high knowledge of PrEP options (64% vs 9%, p < .0001), agreed they were aware of campus resources for sexual health (95% vs 54%, p < .0001), and were likely to get tested for HIV (42% vs 18%, p < .0001). Of students responding to follow-up surveys (N = 113), 41% had been tested for HIV and 66% had spoken to an HCP about HIV prevention or made an appointment to since the session. HCPs responding to follow-up surveys (N = 10) had helped > 100 AYA get tested for HIV since sessions, and 90% were likely to lead another session.

These findings reveal differences in HCP-perceived and AYA-reported barriers/facilitators to HIV prevention, highlighting areas for improvement in patient counseling and the utility of HCP-led campus-based education to reach AYA.

All Authors: No reported disclosures

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