Understanding Biosocial Aspects of DoxyPEP in England and Scotland

This pilot project uses 10 semi-structured interviews with sexual healthcare practitioners and third-sector workers in England and Scotland to understand the existing landscape and context of doxycycline use for preventing bacterial STIs (DoxyPrEP and DoxyPEP) and concerns about antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Using discursive analysis of the interviews alongside public health documents and media sources, this study will identify how DoxyPEP is socially constructed within healthcare practice in the UK. It will generate new perspectives about how to frame meaningful conversations about AMR within sexual health medicine and public health without resorting to minority blame or deterministic arguments. This study also seeks to empower health specialists to think critically about new STI prevention strategies within existing HIV/STI healthcare practices.

Funding: This project is funded by a UoE Moray Endowment Fund Award (2024-25) and the SHI Foundation Postgraduate International Conference Travel Grant (2025).

This qualitative project will collect interviews with UK medical doctors and healthcare professionals to understand their perspectives about new STI prevention tools.