Please answer ALL of the following four questions (submit one document containing four individual answers, one to each question):
1. Discuss the difference between an invention and an innovation using the example of PrEP. Use appropriate academic sources to support your arguments.
2. Researchers have described PrEP as a “gamechanger” in the fight against HIV. Discuss with reference to course materials, and the notion of incremental and disruptive innovations.
3. One criticism towards the Cyclic Model of Innovation is that it underestimates the role of culture in the success or failure of innovations. What cultural factors play into the success or failure of PrEP as a healthcare innovation? Discuss and support your argument(s) through examples.
4. Has PrEP crossed the chasm (Rogers, Moore)? What groups of stakeholders could facilitate the further dissemination of PrEP among relevant target groups? How could they do that?
Case Study information:
PrEP is a pill containing two antiretroviral drugs (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) that, when taken daily, is up to 99% effective in preventing HIV-negative people from contracting the virus (Grant et al. 2010; Molina et al. 2015).
New HIV diagnoses fell by 80% at the UK’s biggest sexual health clinic in London between 2015 and 2017 (Dean St, 2017). This dramatic drop is part of a broader trend, as Public Health England (2018) have also recorded double digit declines across the country. Research recently published by the Lancet suggests that “a major contributor to the decline in diagnoses is the use of HIV pre- exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)” (Nwokolo et al. 2017, p.482).
Please watch the following two videos:
Teaser: What is PrEP?
TED Talk about PrEP
Then, make yourself knowledgeable about PrEP and the state of PrEP availability, diffusion, and adoption in the United Kingdom. Start with these resources:
I Want PrEP Now Campaign by the Terrence Higgins Trust (national HIV/AIDS charity):
PrEP Impact Trial (currently running) in England: https://www.prepimpacttrial.org.uk/ PrEP resources of 56 Dean St. (largest STI clinic in UK): http://dean.st/prepshop/
The Prepster Project: https://prepster.info/
PrEP information by the San Francisco AIDS foundation: https://prepfacts.org/
In addition to these resources, please do your own research to make yourself knowledgeable until you feel comfortable answering the four case study questions (provided above).
