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Rapid Screening of HIV Reverse Transcriptase and Integrase Inhibitors
Published on: April 9, 2014
Emergency department patient perceptions and preferences on opt-in rapid HIV screening program components
Roland C Merchant1, Melissa A Clark, George R Seage
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA. rmerchant@lifespan.org
AIDS Care
|March 14, 2009
Summary
Emergency department patients generally accept rapid HIV screening, preferring quick results. However, concerns about test accuracy exist, particularly among certain demographics, and need to be addressed.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Emergency departments (EDs) are crucial settings for public health interventions.
- Rapid HIV testing offers a faster alternative to conventional methods.
- Understanding patient perspectives is vital for implementing universal screening programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate patient perceptions and preferences regarding an opt-in, universal, rapid HIV screening program in the ED.
- To identify demographic and clinical factors associated with patient beliefs about the screening program.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving in-person interviews with 561 ED patients undergoing rapid HIV screening.
- Multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify predictors of patient beliefs and preferences.
Main Results:
- A majority of patients (65.1%) preferred rapid HIV testing over conventional methods, with 94.6% desiring results within one hour.
- Most participants perceived rapid testing as accurate (58.8%) and did not believe it delayed care (92.5%) or diverted attention from their primary reason for the ED visit (94.1%).
- Males and more educated individuals expressed greater concerns about rapid test accuracy, while Hispanic/Latinos, those with government insurance, and previously tested individuals were more willing to be screened even if it caused a delay.
Conclusions:
- The opt-in, universal, rapid HIV screening program in the ED demonstrated high patient acceptance.
- Addressing concerns about rapid test accuracy through pre-test counseling is essential for maximizing program uptake.
- Targeted outreach may be beneficial for specific patient groups to enhance screening participation.
