Faculty Articles
Barriers and facilitators to HIV testing in primary care among health care providers
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of the National Medical Association
ISSN
0027-9684
Publication Date
5-1-2011
Abstract
Purpose: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a preventable disease that can have improved outcomes with early diagnosis and treatment. The CDC recommends that HIV testing be incorporated into clinical settings as part of routine medical care.
Methods: Individual, open-ended interviews were conducted with primary care providers and administrators to obtain their views regarding the meaning of routine HIV testing and the barriers and facilitators to implementing routine HIV testing in their respective practices.
Results: Most respondents supported routine HIV testing, although their definitions of routine varied. Barriers for providers included time and financial constraints to appropriately conduct HIV counseling and testing and inadequate HIV education and training. Facilitators for implementing routine HIV testing included patients’ feelings of empowerment and reduced HIV stigma.
Conclusions: The implementation of routine HIV testing in primary care practices appears to be an acceptable public health intervention. Next steps should include efforts to standardize the definition of routine HIV testing and working with primary care settings to better understand and reduce barriers to routine testing.
Volume
103
Issue
5
First Page
432
Last Page
438
NSUWorks Citation
Simmons, E. M.,
Brown, M. J.,
Slye, K.,
Ma, M.,
Sutton, M. Y.,
MeLellan-Lemal, E.
(2011). Barriers and facilitators to HIV testing in primary care among health care providers. Journal of the National Medical Association, 103(5), 432-438.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/953
