Perceptions of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing services among HIV-positive persons not in medical care.
OBJECTIVE
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) counseling, testing, and referral (CTR) are provided in a wide variety of settings.


OBJECTIVE
To compare, by test setting, the perceptions of the testing experience among HIV-positive persons who were not receiving medical care.


METHODS
A baseline questionnaire was administered at enrollment into the Antiretroviral Treatment Access Study by the use of audio computer-assisted self-interview.


RESULTS
Of 316 respondents, 27% reported that the counselor did not spend enough time with them and 22% that the counselor did not answer all questions. The odds were higher that persons in the following settings, compared with those at HIV test sites, would report that the counselor did not spend enough time with them: office of private physician or health maintenance organization (HMO) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-21.7), jail (AOR, 5.10; 95% CI, 1.06-24.6), and emergency room (ER) or hospital overnight visit (AOR, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.15-7.44). Similarly, the odds were higher that persons in the following settings compared with those at HIV test sites would report that the counselor did not answer all questions: office of private physician or HMO (AOR, 9.62; 95% CI, 2.22-41.7), jail (AOR, 7.87; 95% CI, 1.50-41.4), and ER or hospital overnight visit (AOR, 3.32; 95% CI, 1.11-9.90).


CONCLUSIONS
Further training and quality assurance in HIV CTR may be needed in some test settings.
Rudy
Ellen T
ET
Sexually Transmitted Diseases Program, Los Angeles Health Department, Los Angeles, California 90007, USA. erudy@dhs.co.la.ca.us
Mahoney-Anderson
Pamela J
PJ
Loughlin
Anita M
AM
Metsch
Lisa R
LR
Kerndt
Peter R
PR
Gaul
Zaneta
Z
Del Rio
Carlos
C
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000592:standards; D003376:Counseling / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires