%0 Journal Article
%T Patients' Misconceptions Regarding HIV Testing: A Communication Gap in the Ambulatory Care Setting
%A Amir Kazory
%A Maryam Sattari
%A Takae Brewer
%J -
%D 2017
%R 10.4172/2161-0711.1000570
%X Undiagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Despite recommendations for standardized, non-targeted, opt-out HIV testing, a substantial subset of HIV-infected individuals remain undiagnosed. We performed an anonymous, voluntary, cross-sectional survey among adult patients visiting an internal medicine clinic at the University of Florida to assess whether potential misconceptions of patients regarding routine blood work could contribute to underdiagnosis of HIV. We developed one question to assess participantsˇŻ beliefs regarding consistent HIV screening via routine laboratory tests: ˇ°I think my doctor checks me for HIV/AIDS every time he/she checks my blood.ˇ± The question had five answer options arranged in a 5-point Likert-type scale: ˇ°strongly agreeˇ±, ˇ°agreeˇ±, ˇ°neither agree nor disagreeˇ±, ˇ°disagreeˇ±, or ˇ°strongly disagree.ˇ± Of the 78 patients who participated in the study, 39 (50%) either ˇ°disagreedˇ± or ˇ°strongly disagreedˇ± that routine laboratory tests detect HIV. The ˇ°neither agree nor disagreeˇ± option was selected by 26 (33%). Ten participants (13%) ˇ°Agreedˇ± or ˇ°strongly agreedˇ± that routine laboratory testing detects HIV. Our study highlights the need for improved communication between healthcare providers and patients about the nature of the laboratory tests and their implications as they relate to HIV screening
%K HIV
%K Mass screening
%K Communication
%K Patient education
%K HIV
%K Mass screening
%K Communication
%K Patient education
%K omics
%K open access
%K omics publishing group
%K open access publisher
%K open access publishers
%K open access publications
%K open access journals
%K open access artcles
%K omics group
%K omicsonline
%U https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/patients-misconceptions-regarding-hiv-testing-a-communication-gap-in-the-ambulatory-care-setting-2161-0711-1000570-96397.html