(PL4) ARE WE SAYING THE RIGHT THINGS YET? TESTING KEY DOXY PEP MESSAGES WITH POTENTIAL CONSUMERS

Background:
Clinics providing doxy PEP have created or repeated messages to describe doxy PEP to consumers. Current consumer messages have not been tested to understand whether potential patients understand common messages and what message gaps still exist. NCSD used AI-moderated online focus groups to gather feedback on common messages and identify additional information consumers need.

Methods:
On February 22-23, 2024, NCSD used the online AI-mediated focus group tool Remesh to test common doxy PEP messages with 50 GBMSM from across the U.S., oversampling Black (56%) and Latino (30%) participants. 40% of participants were from the South. Participants identified as gay (46%), bisexual (46%), and straight (6%). All had multiple sex partners in the past 12 months, with at least one being male.  Participants reviewed a series of passages containing publicly available common messages from clinic and health department websites. Participants also answered questions about cost and healthcare access.

Results:
NCSD identified which common messages are clear, which need refinement, and what new messages need to be developed. Participants understood many existing messages describing doxy PEP and how to use it, its effectiveness, which infections doxy PEP can prevent and which it cannot, and eligibility information. Participants wanted more information on contraindications, cost and access, and long-term effects. Participants did not clearly understand when to take doxy PEP in relation to sex, whether to acquire doxy PEP before or after sex, and taking only one dose in a day.

Conclusion:
As doxy PEP is implemented more broadly, consumers will need a blend of existing, new, and refined messages to understand doxy PEP and determine whether they want or need it. Health communicators and providers can use this information to develop new and refined messages and to prioritize key information in their communications. A second Remesh session in July will provide additional insights.