General internists' beliefs, behaviors, and perceived barriers to routine hiv screening in primary care

P. Todd Korthuis, Gail V. Berkenblit, Lynn E. Sullivan, Joseph Cofrancesco, Robert L. Cook, Michael Bass, Philip G. Bashook, Marcia Edison, Steve M. Asch, James M. Sosman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine HIV screening in primary care but little is known about general internists' views of this practice. We conducted a national, cross-sectional, Internet-based survey of 446 general internists in 2009 regarding their HIV screening behaviors, beliefs, and perceived barriers to routine HIV screening in outpatient internal medicine practices. Internists' awareness of revised CDC guidelines was high (88%), but only 52% had increased HIV testing, 61% offered HIV screening regardless of risk, and a median 2% (range 0-67%) of their patients were tested in the past month. Internists practicing in perceived higher risk communities reported greater HIV screening. Consent requirements were a barrier to screening, particularly for VA providers and those practicing in states with HIV consent statutes inconsistent with CDC guidelines. Interventions that promote HIV screening regardless of risk and streamlined consent requirements will likely increase adoption of routine HIV screening in general medicine practices.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)70-83
Number of pages14
JournalAIDS Education and Prevention
Volume23
Issue number3 SUPPL.
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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