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Acceptance of HIV testing in medical inpatients: a local acceptability study
S Y Chan1, R Hill-Tout, M Rodgers
1Mayday Hospital, The Heath Clinic, Croydon University Hospital, London, UK. sumyeeyorkies@yahoo.co.uk
Insights
Late diagnosis of HIV remains a significant cause of death in the UK. A study in Croydon found that HIV testing is highly acceptable among medical inpatients, suggesting a potential to increase testing rates.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Acceptability Studies
Background:
- Late diagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the primary factor contributing to HIV-related mortality in the United Kingdom.
- National guidelines from BHIVA, BASHH, and BIS recommend HIV testing for specific patient groups in high-prevalence areas.
- Croydon has a local HIV prevalence of 4.17/1000, exceeding the 2/1000 threshold for recommended testing evaluations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the acceptability of HIV testing among medical admissions at Mayday Hospital in Croydon.
- To compare current HIV testing rates with the potential for increased testing based on patient acceptability.
Main Methods:
- A local acceptability study was conducted with medical inpatients at Mayday Hospital.
- 101 medical patients were surveyed regarding their willingness to undergo HIV testing.
- HIV testing rates from a previous audit of medical admissions were reviewed.
Main Results:
- A significant majority of patients, 84 out of 101 (83%), agreed to an HIV test.
- A prior audit revealed a very low HIV testing rate among medical admissions (9/1047).
- The findings indicate a high level of patient acceptance for HIV testing in this clinical setting.
Conclusions:
- HIV testing is highly acceptable among medical inpatients in Croydon.
- There is a substantial opportunity to increase HIV testing rates in this population.
- Implementing routine HIV testing could help reduce late diagnoses and improve patient outcomes.
Abstract:
Late diagnosis remains the most important factor related to death due to HIV in the UK. To reduce late diagnosis, the British HIV Association (BHIVA), the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), and the British Infection Society jointly released national guidelines for HIV testing in the UK in 2008. They recommend local evaluation of HIV testing for all medical admissions aged 15-59 years in areas where the local prevalence is above 2/1000. The local prevalence of HIV in Croydon is 4.17/1000. We carried out a local acceptability study at Mayday Hospital in Croydon and found that 84/101 medical patients agreed to have an HIV test. A previous audit showed that only 9/1047 medical admissions had been tested for HIV. This study shows that HIV testing is acceptable and that more patients could be tested.
