Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Canada aims to eliminate new HIV infections by 2030, but 2000 new cases occur annually despite effective prevention tools like PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis). Our team developed Canada's first national guidelines on PrEP and non-occupational PEP in 2017, and is currently updating the recommendations based on the latest science, with completion expected in mid-2024. The guidelines integrate recommendations on screening for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections as part of a comprehensive approach. This proposal will build on this work by connecting PrEP/PEP experts from the guideline panel with knowledge mobilization specialists and key knowledge users through a series of online and one-face-to-face meeting, to co-create a user-driven knowledge dissemination strategy. A core output of the meetings will be solidified plans for specific knowledge dissemination tools based on the updated Guidelines (each with a linked evaluation plan), including but not limited to an online, accredited, bilingual (English and French) training course for healthcare providers. This course will be hosted on an online learning management platform run by our core Knowledge User partner, the Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE). Harnessing team expertise in knowledge translation methodologies, we will collaboratively develop an evaluation plan for our Guideline dissemination strategy using conceptual frameworks such as RE-AIM as a guide. The actual knowledge dissemination, implementation, and evaluation work will be funded through future opportunities. Our guideline dissemination activities will address important gaps in the HIV epidemic in Canada, by enhancing the evidence-based uptake of PrEP and PEP among clinicians, public health workers, and the key populations they serve, and ultimately contribute to Canada's goal of ending new HIV infections.