Abstract / Summary
Abstract Transitioning from oral to injectable HIV therapy raises unique considerations. We examined the scope and types of questions that people with HIV (PWH) raised about long-acting cabotegravir and rilpivirine (LA-CAB/RPV). We conducted semi-structured interviews with patients at four urban HIV clinics in San Francisco, Chicago, and Atlanta ( n = 131). Two cross-sectional samples were recruited during August 2020 to May 2023: (1) pre-implementation, prior to widespread clinical availability ( n = 72); and (2) early adopters of LA-CAB/RPV ( n = 59). Each dataset was analyzed separately and comparatively using thematic analysis. Participants were 65% male, 45% Black and 27% Latine with median age of 46 years. Questions clustered into four domains: (1) potential side effects; (2) effectiveness; (3) injection visit logistics; and (4) comparison to other injectable medications. Early adopters emphasized the importance of cultivating broader awareness about LA-CAB/RPV. Findings highlight the need for clear, patient-centered information across multiple domains to support informed decisions about LA-CAB/RPV initiation.