title: HIV testing uptake and acceptability in an inner city polyclinic.
abstract: Up to 33% of HIV-infected adults in the UK remain undiagnosed and efforts to increase HIV testing are underway. HIV testing was conducted amongst individuals presenting to a polyclinic at a central London hospital using a point of care test. Demographic and HIV risk data was collected along with a patient feedback questionnaire exploring acceptability of the HIV testing experience. Seventy-one out of 93 (76%) individuals accepted HIV testing. Of those accepting HIV testing, 53/71 (75%) had never previously tested for HIV despite, 45/53 (85%) of these being registered with a GP. Twenty-seven out of 71 (38%) of individuals testing had at least one risk factor associated with HIV acquisition, and of these 17/27 (63%) had never previously tested for HIV infection. There were no new HIV positive diagnoses during the period of testing. Respondents indicated a high level of satisfaction with the service and more than 85% found the service to be helpful, educational and convenient. This small proof of concept pilot showed uptake of HIV testing in this setting to be high and acceptable to patients.
authors.affiliation: St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, London, UK. Jane.ashby@berkshire.nhs.uk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ashby
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Braithewaite
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gnani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fidler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cooke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult