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HIV testing practices of primary care physicians: an Ontario survey
E M Skotniski1, C Woodward, B Hutchison
1Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.
Insights
Physicians generally understand human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk factors and align testing recommendations with guidelines. However, reported practices may differ from actual patient care.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Public health
Background:
- Physician knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk factors is crucial for effective testing and patient management.
- Understanding physician testing practices in relation to established guidelines is essential for improving HIV screening rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess physician knowledge of HIV risk factors.
- To compare physician-reported HIV testing practices with current clinical guidelines.
- To identify physician characteristics associated with recommending HIV testing.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 1,236 physicians regarding patient recommendations for HIV testing.
- Usable responses from 480 physicians were analyzed.
- Logistic regression was employed to examine relationships between physician characteristics and testing recommendations.
Main Results:
- Most physicians would recommend HIV testing for patients with significant risk factors, including partners of intravenous drug users, recipients of blood transfusions (1978-1985), homosexual/bisexual individuals, and those with multiple sexually transmitted diseases.
- Fewer physicians (46.4%) would test patients with multiple sexual partners, while a majority (65.8%) would test any patient requesting it.
- Physicians demonstrated general knowledge of major HIV risk factors and alignment with testing guidelines in their responses.
Conclusions:
- Physicians possess substantial knowledge regarding major HIV risk factors and generally recommend testing in accordance with established guidelines.
- A potential discrepancy exists between physicians' self-reported testing practices and their actual clinical behavior.
- Further investigation into the nuances of physician-reported versus actual HIV testing practices is warranted.
Abstract:
To determine whether physicians are knowledgeable about the risk factors associated with HIV and whether perceived testing practices coincide with testing guidelines, 1,236 physicians were surveyed about which patients they would recommend for HIV testing. A total of 480 usable responses were obtained (response rate of 50% of the eligible sample). Most would suggest testing to partners of intravenous drug users, patients who received blood transfusions between 1978 and 1985, homosexuals and bisexuals, and patients with more than two sexually transmitted diseases. Only 46.4% would suggest testing to patients with more than two sexual partners, and 65.8% would test anyone who asks. Other patients to whom physicians would recommend testing were listed by 16.2%. Logistic regression (F-step) was used to examine the relationship between physician characteristics and likelihood of recommending testing. As a rule, physicians are knowledgeable about the major risk factors and would recommend testing according to guidelines. However, there may be a difference between questionnaire responses and actual practice.