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The Role of Pharmacies in the HIV Prevention and Care Continuums: A Systematic Review

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Abstract

The role of pharmacists in the treatment of HIV has expanded beyond medication dispensing to include a host of cost-effective, evidence-based strategies across the HIV prevention and care continuums. However, wide-scale adoption of pharmacy-based HIV prevention and treatment interventions has been slow. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the evidence on the role of pharmacists across the HIV prevention and care continuums. Thirty-two studies were identified, most of which provided evidence of feasibility of HIV testing and efficacy of non-prescription syringe sale services in pharmacies. However, only two studies implemented an experimental design to rigorously test pharmacy-based strategies. Notably, no pharmacy-based strategies have specifically targeted the highest HIV risk populations such as black and Latinx men who have sex with men, women, or trans populations. Efficacy trials and effectiveness studies should rigorously test existing pharmacy-based strategies to build greater support for wide-scale adoption and implementation. Moreover, in order to integrate pharmacies into the strategy to end the HIV epidemic, studies are needed to ensure that pharmacy-based HIV prevention and treatment services can reach the highest risk populations.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the National Institutes on Mental Health for its support (R34 MH119007-01).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Natalie D. Crawford

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Sky Myers

  3. College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Henry Young

  4. College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA

    Donald Klepser

  5. Kelley-Ross Pharmacy, Seattle, WA, 98102, USA

    Elyse Tung

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  1. Natalie D. Crawford
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Correspondence to Natalie D. Crawford.

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Crawford, N.D., Myers, S., Young, H. et al. The Role of Pharmacies in the HIV Prevention and Care Continuums: A Systematic Review. AIDS Behav 25, 1819–1828 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-03111-w

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