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Improving physicians' HIV risk-assessment skills using announced and unannounced standardized patients
R M Epstein1, J C Levenkron, L Frarey
1Highland Primary Care Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY 14620, USA. ronald_epstein@urmc.rochester.edu
Objective:
To evaluate feasibility and to validate a rating scale for two educational programs that use standardized patient-instructors (SPIs) in the office setting to improve physicians' HIV risk communication skills.
Design:
Pilot randomized trial of announced and unannounced SPIs.
Participants/Settings:
Twenty four primary care physicians in the Rochester, NY, area.
Measurements:
The Rochester HIV Interview Rating Scale (RHIRS), HIV test ordering, physician satisfaction questionnaire.
Results:
Physicians found the intervention useful, and predicted a positive effect on their future HIV-related communication. HIV test ordering and RHIRS scores increased similarly in both intervention groups. Announced SPI visits were more convenient and preferred by physicians. Cost for each SPI visit was $75.
Conclusions:
A brief office-based intervention using SPIs was feasible, well-accepted, convenient, and inexpensive. Announced SPIs were preferred to unannounced SPIs. Pilot results suggesting improvement in HIV-related communication should be confirmed in a larger randomized trial.
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