Dental examinations as an untapped opportunity to provide HIV testing for high-risk individuals.
We used data from the 2005 National Health Interview Survey to examine the potential role of dental care in reaching untested individuals at self-reported risk for HIV. An estimated 3.6 million Americans report that they are at significant HIV risk yet have never been HIV tested. Three quarters of these people have seen a dentist within the past 2 years. Dental care offers opportunities to serve at-risk individuals who are otherwise unlikely to be tested or to receive preventive care services.
Pollack
Harold A
HA
School of Social Service Administration, Center for Health Administration Studies, University of Chicago, 969 East 60th St, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. haroldp@uchicago.edu
Metsch
Lisa R
LR
Abel
Stephen
S
D003729:Dental Care; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors