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Attitude toward rapid HIV testing in a Dental School Clinic
Author(s) -
Durall Piedad Suarez,
Enciso Reyes,
Rhee Jiho,
Mulligan Roseann
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/scd.12096
Subject(s) - medicine , referral , family medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , test (biology) , dental clinic , hiv test , environmental health , population , health services , paleontology , health facility , biology
Detection of HIV infection provides an opportunity for transmission reduction and lifesaving treatment strategies. This study examined patients’ willingness to take a routine, rapid oral HIV test if offered at a dental school clinic. For fifteen days in 2011, an anonymous survey containing demographic information and willingness to be tested questions was offered to all patients awaiting treatment. A total of 383 of 443 people approached, answered the questionnaire (40.2% Hispanic, 27.2% Caucasian, and 19.3% African American) with 58.8% indicating that they had been previously tested for HIV (as compared to the California mean of 39.2%). Patients were highly likely to participate (84.0% of Hispanics, 63.6% of Caucasians, 80.0% of African Americans and 66.7% of Asians) in a free HIV rapid test when given the opportunity. Of respondents never tested before, 62.6% reported a willingness to be tested in this study. HIV screening in a dental clinic during routine visits may allow new undiagnosed cases to be detected with subsequent referral into medical treatment.