The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #70737

Gale Marie Ivie, MPH, CHES, Health Education, Health Promotion and Prevention, Kaiser Permanente, 393 E. Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91188, 626-564-3654, Gale.M.Ivie@kp.org, Enid K. Eck, RN, MPH, Hospital Administration, Kaiser Permanente, 393 E. Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91188, and Jill A McCready, MPH, Clinical Analysis, Kaiser Permanente, 393 E. Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91188.

"Be Safe. Get Tested." is a multi-staged campaign targeted to physicians in a large, non-profit, managed care organization to improve early HIV diagnosis and treatment among high-risk members. Educational interventions were implemented in phases, beginning in 2000. The first, a Clinical Strategic Goal (CSG), strove to increase HIV testing among males being tested for gonorrhea. A subsequent corollary CSG was added in 2001: encouraging HIV screening among males and females who tested positive for any of 5 sentinel STDs (GC, Chlamydia, genital Herpes, syphilis and HPV). Other promotional methods included lab testing prompts, physician contacts through mailings, administrative meetings and printed materials for stimulating patient interchange.

We utilized the CSG measures to assess our interventions. HIV testing among males tested for gonorrhea remained stable in 2000. Of approximately 2,600 males tested for GC each quarter, 1,100 (42%) received concurrent or subsequent HIV screening tests. This rate increased steadily with the introduction of educational activities. By the 3rd quarter of 2002, 1,536 of 3,073 males tested for GC (50.0%) received HIV screening.

For the 2nd CSG measure, quarterly rates showed more variation and apparent correlation with specific interventions. Following a spike of HIV screening among males and females during 1st quarter 2001 rates declined in subsequent quarters. By 3rd quarter 2002, a significant increase from baseline was noted for both genders (males, p<0.005; females, p=0.000). Among 779 males with a positive STD, 412 (52.9%) received HIV screening; for 2,245 females testing positive for an STD, 1,047 (46.6%) were screened for HIV.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to list the promotional methods used in the Be Safe. Get Tested. campaign to increase HIV testing among high-risk patients.
• At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to apply the lessons learned in our campaign in the development of their own campaign to increase HIV testing among high-risk patients.

Keywords: Screening, HIV Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.