Improving HIV rapid testing rates among STD clinic patients: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that HIV testing be a standard part of medical care; however, testing is voluntary and some patients decline. We evaluated 2 brief interventions to promote rapid HIV testing among STD clinic patients who initially declined testing.


METHODS
Using a randomized controlled trial, patients either viewed an educational digital video disc (DVD) or participated in stage-based behavioral counseling (SBC) provided by a nurse. Sixty clients presenting for care at a STD clinic who initially declined HIV testing at registration and during risk behavior screening participated in the study.


RESULTS
The primary outcome was whether patients agreed to be tested for HIV. The secondary outcomes included attitudes, knowledge, and stage-of-change regarding HIV testing. Patients receiving both interventions improved their attitudes and knowledge about testing (ps < .01). Patients receiving SBC agreed to testing more often (45%) than did patients who viewed the DVD (19%; p < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Brief interventions can increase rapid HIV testing acceptance among patients who are reluctant to be tested; counseling guided by behavioral science theory is more effective than a well-designed information-based intervention.
Carey
Michael P
MP
Center for Health Behavior, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-2340, USA. mpcarey@syr.edu
Coury-Doniger
Patricia
P
Senn
Theresa E
TE
Vanable
Peter A
PA
Urban
Marguerite A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*