The HIV PEP Study was designed to implement and evaluate a program of universal offering of HIV prophylaxis for clients of Ontario's Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care and Treatment Centres (SATCs). Based on the HIV PEP Study's final report and recommendations, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is providing ongoing base funding to support the universal offering of HIV PEP medications at Ontario's 34 Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, effective September 2006.

To help implement this evidence-based program across Ontario, Sheila Macdonald, provincial coordinator, Ontario Network of SATCs, is leading a new multi-phase Knowledge-to-Action (KTA) project funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Phase I of the KTA project explored the supports for and barriers to successful implementation of the universal HIV PEP program. Based on the knowledge gathered from health-care providers, knowledge transfer tools and strategies were developed support province-wide implementation of the universal HIV PEP program. Review some of the tools that have been developed on the Ontario Network of SATCs website.

Phase II activities currently underway are focused on three areas: training, dissemination, and capacity building. Both in-person and online training packages have been developed that incorporate knowledge gained in Phase I of the project and integrate the KTA tools. Resources for ongoing learning and evaluation are in development. HIV PEP study findings and KTA project materials will be shared with communities throughout Ontario and across the country in order to enhance the quality of care received by all survivors of sexual assault in Canada. Formal presentations and publications are also planned for 2008. Finally, ensuring the sustainability of the Ontario HIV PEP program beyond the end of the KTA project in August 2008 is a key objective of Phase II of the KTA project. This will be accomplished by building the capacity of the Network to act as the central coordinating body for the HIV PEP program and by supporting each SATC to strengthen local partnerships in order to deliver services tailored to their own communities. Maintaining and enhancing both research/clinical partnerships and hospital/community relationships are critical elements of these capacity building strategies.

Knowledge-to-Action Project Phase I Newsletters
Volume 1 (1): May 2006
Volume 1 (2): June 2006
Volume 1 (3): November 2006
Volume 1 (4): December 2006

Knowledge-to-Action Project Phase II Newsletters
Spring 2007