Sean D Young1, Benoit Monin, Douglas Owens. 1. Division of Infectious Disease/Program in Global Health, epartment of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. sdyoung@mednet.ucla.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Little research has studied experimentally whether an opt-out policy will increase testing rates or whether this strategy is especially effective in the case of stigmatized diseases such as HIV. DESIGN AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: In Study 1, a 2 x 2 factorial design asked participants to make moral judgments about a person's decision to test for stigmatized diseases under an opt-in versus an opt-out policy. In Study 2, a 2 x 2 factorial design measuring testing rates explored whether opt-out methods reduce stigma and increase testing for stigmatized diseases. RESULTS: Study 1 results suggest that getting tested draws suspicion regarding moral conduct in an opt-in system, whereas not getting tested draws suspicion in an opt-out system. Study 2 results suggest that an opt-out policy may increase testing rates for stigmatized diseases and lessen the effects of stigma in people's reluctance to test. DISCUSSION: A social psychological approach to health services can be used to show how testing policies can influence both the stigmatization associated with testing and participation rates. An understanding of how testing policies may affect patient decision making and behavior is imperative for creating effective testing policies. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved.
OBJECTIVE: Little research has studied experimentally whether an opt-out policy will increase testing rates or whether this strategy is especially effective in the case of stigmatized diseases such as HIV. DESIGN AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: In Study 1, a 2 x 2 factorial design asked participants to make moral judgments about a person's decision to test for stigmatized diseases under an opt-in versus an opt-out policy. In Study 2, a 2 x 2 factorial design measuring testing rates explored whether opt-out methods reduce stigma and increase testing for stigmatized diseases. RESULTS: Study 1 results suggest that getting tested draws suspicion regarding moral conduct in an opt-in system, whereas not getting tested draws suspicion in an opt-out system. Study 2 results suggest that an opt-out policy may increase testing rates for stigmatized diseases and lessen the effects of stigma in people's reluctance to test. DISCUSSION: A social psychological approach to health services can be used to show how testing policies can influence both the stigmatization associated with testing and participation rates. An understanding of how testing policies may affect patient decision making and behavior is imperative for creating effective testing policies. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved.
Authors: Freya Spielberg; Bernard M Branson; Gary M Goldbaum; David Lockhart; Ann Kurth; Connie L Celum; Anthony Rossini; Cathy W Critchlow; Robert W Wood Journal: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Date: 2003-03-01 Impact factor: 3.731
Authors: J Dennis Fortenberry; Mary McFarlane; Amy Bleakley; Sheana Bull; Martin Fishbein; Diane M Grimley; C Kevin Malotte; Bradley P Stoner Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2002-03 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Natalie D Crawford; Trevano Dean; Alexis V Rivera; Taylor Guffey; Silvia Amesty; Abby Rudolph; Jennifer DeCuir; Crystal M Fuller Journal: Public Health Rep Date: 2016 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 2.792
Authors: Sarah Finocchario-Kessler; Natabhona Mabachi; Jacinda K Dariotis; Jean Anderson; Kathy Goggin; Michael Sweat Journal: AIDS Patient Care STDS Date: 2012-10-01 Impact factor: 5.078