ISSN: 2161-0711

Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education
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  • Research Article   
  • J Community Med Health Educ 7:570,
  • DOI: 10.4172/2161-0711.1000570

Patients' Misconceptions Regarding HIV Testing: A Communication Gap in the Ambulatory Care Setting

Amir Kazory, Takae Brewer and Maryam Sattari*
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
*Corresponding Author : Maryam Sattari, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 1329-SW 16th Street, Suite 5140-Gainesville, FL 32610, USA, Tel: 352-265-0651, Fax: 352-265-0153, Email: maryam.sattari@medicine.ufl.edu

Received Date: Nov 26, 2017 / Accepted Date: Dec 06, 2017 / Published Date: Dec 11, 2017

Abstract

Undiagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Despite recommendations for standardized, non-targeted, opt-out HIV testing, a substantial subset of HIV-infected individuals remain undiagnosed. We performed an anonymous, voluntary, cross-sectional survey among adult patients visiting an internal medicine clinic at the University of Florida to assess whether potential misconceptions of patients regarding routine blood work could contribute to underdiagnosis of HIV. We developed one question to assess participants’ beliefs regarding consistent HIV screening via routine laboratory tests: “I think my doctor checks me for HIV/AIDS every time he/she checks my blood.” The question had five answer options arranged in a 5-point Likert-type scale: “strongly agree”, “agree”, “neither agree nor disagree”, “disagree”, or “strongly disagree.” Of the 78 patients who participated in the study, 39 (50%) either “disagreed” or “strongly disagreed” that routine laboratory tests detect HIV. The “neither agree nor disagree” option was selected by 26 (33%). Ten participants (13%) “Agreed” or “strongly agreed” that routine laboratory testing detects HIV. Our study highlights the need for improved communication between healthcare providers and patients about the nature of the laboratory tests and their implications as they relate to HIV screening.

Keywords: HIV; Mass screening; Communication; Patient education

Citation: Kazory A, Brewer T, Sattari M (2017) Patients' Misconceptions Regarding HIV Testing: A Communication Gap in the Ambulatory Care Setting. J Community Med Health Educ 7: 570. Doi: 10.4172/2161-0711.1000570

Copyright: ©2017 Kazory A, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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