Physician Preferences for Physician-Targeted HIV Testing Campaigns

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Prevention
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• U.S. guidelines recommend routine HIV testing for all adult patients.
• Physician adherence to these guidelines varies, impacting testing rates.
• Physician recommendations are a key factor in patient HIV testing uptake.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify primary care physician preferences for a campaign promoting HIV testing.
• To inform the development of effective physician-targeted HIV testing initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A web-based survey was administered to 175 primary care physicians across 19 community health centers.
• Physicians indicated preferences for campaign elements related to HIV testing information, communication tools, and promotion strategies.

Main Results:

• Physicians prioritized receiving the latest HIV testing recommendations.
• Patient-initiated requests for HIV tests and electronic medical record (EMR) alerts were preferred communication and promotion tools.
• Top preferences included updated guidelines, patient-prompted testing, and EMR alerts.

Conclusions:

• Effective HIV testing campaigns require clear information on guidelines and patient receptiveness.
• Strategies incorporating patient and physician prompts can enhance HIV testing conversations.
• A multi-faceted approach is likely most effective for improving HIV testing rates.