AIDS risk assessment in primary care.
BACKGROUND
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease is a major cause of premature death in the United States. Primary care physicians can and should play an important role in its prevention. Detailed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) education, however, is not a cost-effective use of physicians' time for the great majority of patients, most of whom are at low risk for HIV infection.


METHODS
Recommendations for AIDS prevention in the primary care setting were formulated based on a review of the published literature and on the author's personal experience as an AIDS epidemiologist and a practicing family physician.


CONCLUSIONS
Because risk for HIV infection is not uniform, primary care physicians can have the greatest impact by concentrating their prevention efforts on the minority of patients who are at high risk. This article proposes a 30-second AIDS risk assessment for use in routine adult health care. Patients found to be at high risk should receive counseling on HIV risk reduction based on their individual needs. Also described are other situations when primary care providers should talk with their patients about AIDS prevention.
Hearst
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Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003376:Counseling; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012307:Risk Factors