PURPOSE: To determine attitudes of patients towards routine HIV testing in the primary care setting. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey on the risk factors, beliefs, attitudes and knowledge of HIV/AIDS administered to 101 individuals present in urban primary care clinics in Providence, RI. RESULTS: Previous HIV testing was done most frequently for those respondents requiring prenatal services and for those who were curious about their HIV status. Patients' perceptions of their personal risk for HIV infection and their self-identified risk factors were frequently discordant. Patients wanted to be tested routinely for HIV by their primary care providers, even when they did not feel that they were at high risk for HIV acquisition. CONCLUSIONS: Patients in this study clearly indicated their desire to be tested for HIV routinely by their primary care providers. Routine HIV testing is a reasonable option to identify HIV infections in the primary care setting, as it is nondiscriminatory, allows increased awareness of actual risk for infection, and provides an opportunity for earlier detection of HIV.
PURPOSE: To determine attitudes of patients towards routine HIV testing in the primary care setting. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey on the risk factors, beliefs, attitudes and knowledge of HIV/AIDS administered to 101 individuals present in urban primary care clinics in Providence, RI. RESULTS: Previous HIV testing was done most frequently for those respondents requiring prenatal services and for those who were curious about their HIV status. Patients' perceptions of their personal risk for HIV infection and their self-identified risk factors were frequently discordant. Patients wanted to be tested routinely for HIV by their primary care providers, even when they did not feel that they were at high risk for HIV acquisition. CONCLUSIONS:Patients in this study clearly indicated their desire to be tested for HIV routinely by their primary care providers. Routine HIV testing is a reasonable option to identify HIV infections in the primary care setting, as it is nondiscriminatory, allows increased awareness of actual risk for infection, and provides an opportunity for earlier detection of HIV.