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Table 3 Recommendations for practice

From: “I definitely cannot afford to be feeling poorly if there’s no need to be”: a qualitative evaluation of antiviral uptake following suspected occupational exposure to avian influenza

Recommendations

Improving access to antivirals:

• Make access to antivirals easy by providing them on-site or arranging for collection close to home for those at highest risk.

• Enable access to translated materials and interpreters for people with non-English language preferences.

• Provide materials in preferred formats (videos, easy-reads) and languages (e.g., Romanian, Bulgarian, Russian, Polish).

Building relationships with exposed individuals:

• Facilitate informed decision-making about the risks and benefits of taking antivirals.

• Build intermediaries’ skills (for example, culling team leads) to facilitate informed decision-making about antivirals.

• Develop alternative ways to contact exposed individuals, such as via their organisations and team leaders.

Communication strategies:

• Proactively provide information on what antivirals are, why they are prescribed, differences between prophylaxis and treatment, and how to minimise side effects. Check the individual’s understanding and correct identified misunderstandings and misperceptions (particularly regarding side effects).

• Communicate that antivirals are strongly recommended for those at highest risk.

• Inform exposed individuals about the pandemic potential of AI.

• Advise how to minimise or manage side effects to support uptake and adherence (e.g. taking the medication with food, contacting a pharmacist or a GP for advice on managing side effects).

• Raise awareness about AI symptoms in humans and who to contact when AI symptoms are suspected.

• Address concerns about long-term antiviral usage.

• Inform exposed individuals about the importance of finishing the prescribed course.

• Inform exposed individuals that PPE doesn’t offer 100% protection.

• Encourage exposed individuals to share positive or neutral experiences with antivirals to balance unfavourable experiences.

• Reinforce public health advice following repeated exposures.

PPE usage:

• Continue encouraging and enabling appropriate PPE usage.

• Encourage people to report PPE breaches.

Risk-benefit considerations:

• Public health guidance should carefully consider the risk-benefit ratio of prophylactic antivirals when advised at scale.

• Prioritise those at most risk of catching AI, considering exposure and vulnerability.

• Explore the availability of antivirals with fewer side effects.

Sustained uptake and adherence:

• Public health guidance should carefully consider the risk-benefit ratio of prophylactic antivirals to facilitate sustained uptake and adherence.

• Advise how to minimise or manage side effects to support uptake and adherence (e.g. taking the medication with food, contacting a pharmacist or a GP for advice on managing side effects).

• Make continued access to antivirals easy for those at highest risk (e.g. for extended exposures).