title: Pediatric emergency department-based rapid HIV testing: adolescent attitudes and preferences.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to describe adolescent attitudes/preferences toward rapid HIV testing in a pediatric emergency department (PED).
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous survey was completed by adolescents who presented to an urban PED. The survey was completed while they participated in a rapid HIV prevention/testing program. Survey questions included demographics, HIV risk factors/knowledge, prior testing experience, and attitudes/preferences toward rapid HIV testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred fourteen adolescents between the ages of 14 and 21 years were surveyed. Most respondents (69%) reported that the emergency department was a very high preference location for testing. Eighty percent of adolescents agreed that they were more likely to get tested for HIV if a rapid test was available. Most participants strongly agreed that it was important to receive pretest and posttest counseling for HIV. In addition, 38% strongly agreed that they preferred a same-sex counselor, whereas 9% strongly agreed that they preferred a same-ethnicity counselor. Eighty-one percent reported that they planned to get retested for HIV in the next 6 to 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study offers valuable new insights into adolescent attitudes and preferences for rapid HIV testing in a PED. Adolescents gave high ratings to the location, testing, and counseling process. Our data support the importance of structured counseling, which is contrary to current published perspectives of counseling efficacy. In addition, we found that the PED was a highly preferred location for rapid HIV testing, which supports the need for increased development of prevention and testing programs in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Christopher.haines@tenethealth.com
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.forename: Kelechi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uwazuoke
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zussman
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Parrino
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laguerre
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult