AIDS risk assessment in primary care

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease is a major cause of premature death in the United States. Primary care physicians can and should play an important role in its prevention. Detailed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) education, however, is not a cost-effective use of physicians' time for the great majority of patients, most of whom are at low risk for HIV infection.

Recommendations for AIDS prevention in the primary care setting were formulated based on a review of the published literature and on the author's personal experience as an AIDS epidemiologist and a practicing family physician.

Because risk for HIV infection is not uniform, primary care physicians can have the greatest impact by concentrating their prevention efforts on the minority of patients who are at high risk. This article proposes a 30-second AIDS risk assessment for use in routine adult health care. Patients found to be at high risk should receive counseling on HIV risk reduction based on their individual needs. Also described are other situations when primary care providers should talk with their patients about AIDS prevention.