Medical school policies regarding medical students and HIV infection

To ascertain how medical schools address several difficult policy issues regarding medical students and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), and to examine whether schools' policies differ according to the incidences of HIV in the schools' locations.

Between January 5, 1990, and March 20, 1991, 15-minute telephone interviews were conducted with spokespersons (deans or other policymakers) at 42 U.S. medical schools: the 14 in areas of high incidence of HIV, the ten in areas of low incidence, and a convenience sample of 18 in areas of medium incidence. The interview questions were about preventing HIV infection, reporting HIV infection, confidentiality, screening for HIV infection, limiting clinical activities, counseling, hepatitis B vaccination, prophylactic zidovudine administration, and disability and health insurance.

A total of 16 schools, including seven of the 14 in high-incidence areas, had no policy regarding medical students with HIV infection. No strong statistically significant difference was found between the responses of schools in low-incidence areas and those of schools in high-incidence areas. No medical school routinely tested its students for HIV.

Schools should do more to ensure that students remember and follow the guidelines about preventing occupational exposure to HIV; in addition, prior to screening for HIV, schools should ensure that students are provided with appropriate levels of health, life, and disability insurance.