News: PrEP STAT Nudgeathon Workshop
2 DAY
CODESIGN
WORKSHOP
The participants learned how to ‘Nudge’ to encourage other
behaviours.
The solutions developed during this Nudgeathon will be
implemented at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC)
DATE
August 17-18, 2024
LOCATION
Level 5 the Alfred Centre
99 Commercial Rd, Melbourne VIC 3004
WHAT IS THIS WORKSHOP ABOUT?
In this workshop, participants develop pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV (PrEP) Starter packs for overseas-born gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM) without access to Medicare
WHAT IS A PREP STARTER PACK?
It is a free 1-month supply of PrEP and a short community message to encourage someone to use PrEP.
WHY PrEP STARTER PACKS?
We want to address the inequity in the HIV response by evaluating whether the provision of the PrEP-STAT pack at the point of consultation at MSHC can improve the awareness, uptake and ongoing access/linkage to prevention among high-risk overseas-born GBM.
WHAT IS A NUDGEATHON?
To ensure cultural relevance and optimise uptake, we want to codesign the PrEP-STAT package with the community using behavioural economic principles called ‘Nudgeathon’. Nudgeathon is a behavioural change competition in which teams develop solutions to real-life social issues. Nudges are interventions or changes in the environment designed to influence people’s behavior in a predictable way, often without restricting their freedom of choice.
WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS WORKSHOP?
Overseas-born gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM), professionals (such as marketers and graphic designers), students, researchers and clinicians who are interested in designing a PrEP STARTER pack for overseas-born GBM.
WHAT PARTICIPANTS OBTAINED FROM THIS WORKSHOP?
Gain skills on ‘Nudges’ (www.nudgeathon.com)
Seamless networking
Inclusive behavioural economics or ‘Nudge’ supports
$AU 400 or free flights and accommodation if coming from interstate
THE WINNING
PREP STAT PACK
The winning team proposed a ‘Love Kit’ specifically designed for overseas-born gay and bisexual men (GBM). Using behavioural economics, they integrated ‘Nudge’ to subtly encourage PrEP uptake and adherence, while applying the ‘Pay-it-Forward’ model using a ‘Love Letter’ to foster communitydriven health promotion. This creates a ripple effect of awareness and support in underserved communities.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
OF 2 OVERSEAS-BORN GBM
1 BEHAVIOURAL SCIENTIST
1 CLINICIAN
1 RESEARCHER
