PrEP Initiation
Supporting Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) with PrEP Initiation
We, as part of MICA’s Center for Social Design, collaborated with Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) Sexual Health and Wellness Clinic staff, providers, and patients to better understand barriers to PrEP (drug used to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS), identify opportunities, and generate ideas with the ultimate goal of supporting STI providers and patients with PrEP initiation.
Design Challenge (HMW):
How might we support BCHD Sexual Health Clinic
providers and patients with PrEP initiation?
Research
We started the project by diving into secondary research about PrEP, understanding the protocol that the Sexual Health Clinic uses to administer PrEP, and visiting the clinics that are located in Baltimore. We also interviewed BCHD providers and patients, created journey maps, guiding questions and guiding principles.
Synthesis & Ideation
Our research helped us identify 5 broad themes, promoting PrEP, talking about PrEP, navigating insurance & Prescription costs, and experiencing the space. This was instrumental in facilitating an ideation session with PrEP providers and patients.
Prototyping & Implementation
The ideation session shed light on a need for materials and collaterals for the clinics that focuses on explaining the PrEP journey. We created prototypes for a directory, an interactive poster, a physical and digital brochure, an App and kiosk, PrEP badges, and provider flip cards.
We created two iterations of prototypes that we tested with BCHD staff and patients. Our student project ended after the second round and currently my peer and I are in the process of building on the work our team did by designing the final collaterals.
Guiding Questions
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PrEP Perception
- What information about PrEP are patients sharing with peers?
- What information is most important to the community?
- What secondary information is available and what is it? (In the clinics for the patients) -
Current PrEP Process
- What are the current best practices?
- What is BCHD doing well with PrEP?
- How does PrEP initiation currently work?
- How do providers currently initiate PrEP with their patients? -
PrEP Awareness
- Feelings & Experiences
- Barriers
- What has been patients and providers experience with PrEP initiation?
- What are the barriers to PrEP initiation for both providers & patients?
Research and Interview Guide Process
Design Principles
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Engage with and empower patients and providers through support in the PREP initiation process
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Sexual health, HIV/AIDS, and the LGBTQIA+ community have all been stigmatised. Recognise the stigma and check your own personal biases
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Consider the possible long-lasting impact when ideating and designing
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Use inclusive language in messaging and visuals that remain sex positive and are without judgement
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Acknowledge the history of HIV/AIDS and the LGBTQIA+ community and the inherent medical mistrust
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When possible streamline the process for all stakeholders to increase accessibility
Credits
Design Instructor: Becky Slogeris
Designed with: Allison Tomlinson, Allyson Kim Hilgeman, Dejia Danhi, Elizabeth Emmett, Ellie Bazurto, Larissa Hawkins, Matt Coles
