OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine attitudes and needs among health care providers in the Indian Health Service toward implementing routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening among 13- to 64-year-olds as per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. METHODS: We surveyed a random sample of Indian Health Service physicians and nurses by e-mail and telephone interview. A total of 205 eligible respondents (response rate = 70%) completed the survey. RESULTS: A majority (58%) of respondents were familiar or somewhat familiar with the 2006 CDC guidelines on HIV screening for 13- to 64-year-olds. A proportion of respondents (43%) felt that community HIV prevalence was below the 0.1% threshold the CDC recommends to initiate screening. Respondents supported routine, rather than solely risk-based HIV testing (70%) and stated that HIV screening would be realistic in their health facility (51%). Respondents felt that they needed special qualification to offer an HIV test (49%) or to notify a patient of a "reactive" HIV test result (67%). CONCLUSIONS: A majority of Indian Health Service physicians and nurses support the CDC HIV screening guidelines. Providers need more information and training on HIV screening guidelines, implementation strategies, and relevant state HIV regulations.
OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine attitudes and needs among health care providers in the Indian Health Service toward implementing routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening among 13- to 64-year-olds as per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. METHODS: We surveyed a random sample of Indian Health Service physicians and nurses by e-mail and telephone interview. A total of 205 eligible respondents (response rate = 70%) completed the survey. RESULTS: A majority (58%) of respondents were familiar or somewhat familiar with the 2006 CDC guidelines on HIV screening for 13- to 64-year-olds. A proportion of respondents (43%) felt that community HIV prevalence was below the 0.1% threshold the CDC recommends to initiate screening. Respondents supported routine, rather than solely risk-based HIV testing (70%) and stated that HIV screening would be realistic in their health facility (51%). Respondents felt that they needed special qualification to offer an HIV test (49%) or to notify a patient of a "reactive" HIV test result (67%). CONCLUSIONS: A majority of Indian Health Service physicians and nurses support the CDC HIV screening guidelines. Providers need more information and training on HIV screening guidelines, implementation strategies, and relevant state HIV regulations.
Authors: Frances J Walker; Eloisa Llata; Mona Doshani; Melanie M Taylor; Jeanne Bertolli; Hillard S Weinstock; H Irene Hall Journal: J Community Health Date: 2015-06
Authors: Monisha Arya; Micha Yin Zheng; Amber Bush Amspoker; Michael Anthony Kallen; Richard Lewis Street; Kasisomayajula Viswanath; Thomas Peter Giordano Journal: J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care Date: 2014 Jul-Aug