Open AccessRapid HIV Testing in Dental Practices
Author(s) -
Karolynn Siegel,
Stephen Abel,
Margaret Pereyra,
Terri Liguori,
Harold A. Pollack,
Lisa R. Metsch
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2011.300509
Subject(s) - medicine , reimbursement , family medicine , licensure , population , scope of practice , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , nursing , environmental health , health care , economics , economic growth
Despite increasing discussion about the dental care setting as a logical, potentially fruitful venue for rapid HIV testing, dentists' willingness to take on this task is unclear. Semistructured interviews with 40 private practice dentists revealed their principal concerns regarding offering patients HIV testing were false results, offending patients, viewing HIV testing as outside the scope of licensure, anticipating low patient acceptance of HIV testing in a dental setting, expecting inadequate reimbursement, and potential negative impact on the practice. Dentists were typically not concerned about transmission risks, staff opposition to testing, or making referrals for follow-up after a positive result. A larger cultural change may be required to engage dentists more actively in primary prevention and population-based HIV screening.