HIV screening and counseling for intravenous drug abuse patients. Staff and patient attitudes.
At least one third of patients enrolled in a methadone maintenance treatment program are willing to comply voluntarily with screening for and counseling about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A questionnaire about knowledge, attitudes, and behavior concerning acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was answered anonymously by 79% (46) of the clinical staff and 67% (868) of the enrolled patients. On their own initiative, 21% of the patients had already received voluntary anonymous HIV screening and brief counseling, seldom discussing the result with the staff. Approximately 90% of the staff and a majority of the patients (72%) thought a voluntary HIV screening program should be offered to all patients. Almost all staff (98%), but only 50% of the patients, felt the HIV test results should be known to physicians, nurses, and counselors at the clinic. Few staff members (15%) believed that patients had changed their sex behavior; more (48%) felt that needle sharing was reduced. Patients believed methadone patients in general had changed their sex behavior (49.2%) and reduced needle sharing (62%) to prevent becoming infected. Patients reported statistically significant reductions both in number of sex partners and in personal needle sharing during the past year.
Curtis
J L
JL
Department of Psychiatry and Substance Abuse Services, Harlem Hospital Center, New York, NY 10037.
Crummey
F C
FC
Baker
S N
SN
Foster
R E
RE
Khanyile
C S
CS
Wilkins
R
R
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D037141:Mandatory Programs; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009519:New York City; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D035141:Voluntary Programs
D008691:Methadone