206800 Healthcare providers fail to expand human immunodeficiency virus testing

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Jennifer Ali, MSN, APN , College of Nursing, University of Illinois-Chicago, Peoria, IL
Genese Marshall, MSN, APN , College of Nursing, University of Illinois-Chicago, Edwards, IL
Background: In 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new and revised recommendations for routine Human Immunodefienciency Virus (HIV) testing that suggest healthcare providers perform routine HIV testing on all patients ages 13-64. Despite these recommendations, primary care providers have failed to expand testing practices. The purpose of this study was to examine HIV testing practices of advanced practice nurses and identify factors that may prevent or facilitate routine HIV testing.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was employed with a convenience sample certified nurse practitioners who are members of the Illinois Society of Advanced Practice Nurses. The survey was posted online and participants were sent electronic mail, requesting participation in the study.

Results: Of participants, 50% were not familiar with the CDC's new recommendations. Patient risk status, hospital/clinic standard of care policies, lack of patient acceptance, and inadequate reimbursement were the most common factors that hinder routine HIV testing. On the other hand, easy access to a resource list of HIV specialist and hotlines, continuing HIV education, HIV counseling training, reducing time needed for pretest counseling, reducing time involved in obtaining consent, having a staff member conduct HIV counseling and obtain consent, and making HIV testing the standard of care for hospitals/clinics were facilitators identified a potentially helpful.

Conclusion: Understanding the factors that prevent or facilitate routine HIV testing will aid in the development of future interventional strategies to expand testing practices per the CDC recommendations.

Learning Objectives:
Identify barriers and facilitators to routine HIV testing.

Keywords: HIV Interventions, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conducted this study
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.