142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

301454
Dental Hygiene Patients Willingness to Undergo HIV Testing

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 : 5:26 PM - 5:40 PM

Anthony J. Santella, DrPH, MPH, CHES , Department of Health Professions, MPH Program, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
Susan H. Davide, RDH, MSEd, MS , Department of Dental Hygiene, New York City College of Technology, Brooklyn, NY
Winnie Furnari, RDH, MS, FAADH , Department of Dental Hygiene, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY
Petal Leuwaisee, AAS, BSDH, RDH , Department of Allied Health, Dental Hygiene Unit, Hostos Community College, Bronx, NY
Marilyn Cortell, RDH, MS, FAADH , Department of Dental Hygiene, New York City College of Technology, Brooklyn, NY
Bhuma Krishnamachari, PhD , Department of Medicine, NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY
Background: 20% of people living with HIV in the U.S. are unaware of their status. Rapid HIV testing (RHT), an easy and accepted screening tool, has been introduced in limited settings. Dental hygienists are committed to patient education and disease prevention and there is evidence they can effectively conduct RHT.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered among 400 dental hygiene patients at University-based clinics in New York City from November 2013-February 2014. Using the Decisional Conflict Theory, patient acceptance of RHT, provider type preference and willingness to pay were assessed.

Results: The mean age of respondents was 38.3 (SD 15.2), 56.3% were female, 38.1% were White and 40.3% Hispanic. Over half (68.2%) indicated willingness to have HIV testing in a dental clinic, with 85.8 % choosing oral RHT, 5.8% pin prick RHT and 8.3% a blood draw.  Those selecting blood draw were younger than those selecting the oral rapid method (26.5 vs 38.4 years, p<0.05). Respondents preferred testing by dental hygienists (36.7%) and dental assistants (35%) over dentists (26.7%).  Cost-wise, 61.4% indicated they would only take the test if it were $20 or less.  The mean decisional conflict score was 3.5/4.0. 

Conclusions: Patients are willing to undergo oral RHT HIV testing with dental hygienists in the dental environment.  With a high decisional conflict score, patients appear aware of the benefits and risks associated with RHT. Further research is needed to evaluate the public health benefits and logistical challenges facing the provision of HIV testing in this environment.

Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe dental hygiene patient attitudes toward rapid HIV testing in the dental setting Identify barriers to conducting rapid HIV testing in the dental hygiene clinic setting Discuss reliable and valid ways of measuring decision making and decision conlfict in patient populations

Keyword(s): Oral Health, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal or co-principal investigator on numerous research studies involving dental professionals and dental and dental hygiene patient attitudes toward HIV testing. My main research interest is expanding rapid HIV testing into non-primary care settings such as dentistry and community pharmacy settings.
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.