title: The roles of self-efficacy and pretest counseling in type 2 herpes simplex virus screening in asymptomatic adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of counseling for patients undergoing screening for type 2 herpes simplex virus (HSV-2). Using pre- and post-screening questionnaires, we evaluated correlations between demographic factors, measures of self-efficacy and follow-through with the screening test, and willingness to take antiviral medication and share results with sexual partners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects (N= 115) were recruited as part of usual care at a private, urban family practice. A total of 111 subjects completed pre-screening questionnaires, and 38 completed post-screening questionnaires.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overwhelming majority of participants were (a) willing to undergo screening; (b) take suppressive antiviral medication if necessary; (c) share their results with sexual partners; and (d) consider safer sexual practices as a consequence of screening. Older patients were less willing to consider daily antiviral medication. Men who have sex with men (MSM) had lower perceived susceptibility to HSV-2 but were more likely to undergo and report screening.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future research should include predictive models for determining the most appropriate patients to screen for HSV-2 and best practices for those who test positive. Shared decision making between patients and advanced practice nurses regarding the risks and benefits of screening for HSV-2 should be a component visits that include sexually transmitted disease screening. Particular attention should be paid to those at higher risk for contracting the virus, including patients with HIV and MSM.
authors.affiliation: Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington 98447, USA. freeman@plu.edu
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zychowicz
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D037001:Directive Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult