title: HIV testing sites' communication about adolescent confidentiality: potential barriers and facilitators to testing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to evaluate HIV testing locations in New York City in terms of staff communication of confidentiality policies for adolescent clients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the New York State Directory of HIV Counseling and Testing Resources as a sampling frame, this study made telephone contact with 164 public HIV testing locations in New York City and used a semistructured interview to ask questions about confidentiality, parental permission, and parent access to test results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 48% of locations, either HIV testing was not offered or we were unable to reach a staff member to ask questions about testing options and confidentiality. At the remaining sites, information provided regarding confidentiality, parental consent, and privacy of test results was correct only 69% to 85% of the time. Additionally, 23% of sites successfully contacted offered testing exclusively between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. weekdays, when most adolescents are in school.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings point to a need for increased training and quality control at the clinical level to ensure that consumers in need of HIV testing are provided with accurate information and accessible services. Furthermore, these results highlight the need for more "patient-centric" sites with enhanced accessibility for potential clients, particularly youth.
authors: 1Yeshiva University, New York, NY, USA.
authors: Christel
authors: C
authors: Hyden
authors: John P
authors: JP
authors: Allegrante
authors: Alwyn T
authors: AT
authors: Cohall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003142:Communication; D003151:Community Health Centers; D003219:Confidentiality; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D009519:New York City; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV/AIDS; access to health care; child/adolescent health; community organization; consumer health; health disparities; health promotion; public health laws/policies