title: Attitude toward rapid HIV testing in a dental school clinic.
abstract: Detection of HIV infection provides an opportunity for transmission reduction and lifesaving treatment strategies. This study examined patients' willingness to take a routine, rapid oral HIV test if offered at a dental school clinic. For fifteen days in 2011, an anonymous survey containing demographic information and willingness to be tested questions was offered to all patients awaiting treatment. A total of 383 of 443 people approached, answered the questionnaire (40.2% Hispanic, 27.2% Caucasian, and 19.3% African American) with 58.8% indicating that they had been previously tested for HIV (as compared to the California mean of 39.2%). Patients were highly likely to participate (84.0% of Hispanics, 63.6% of Caucasians, 80.0% of African Americans and 66.7% of Asians) in a free HIV rapid test when given the opportunity. Of respondents never tested before, 62.6% reported a willingness to be tested in this study. HIV screening in a dental clinic during routine visits may allow new undiagnosed cases to be detected with subsequent referral into medical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry and Section Chair of Geriatrics and Special Patients, Division of Dental Public Health and Pediatric Dentistry, Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Piedad Suarez
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Durall
authors.forename: Reyes
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Enciso
authors.forename: Jiho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Roseann
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mulligan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003740:Dental Clinics; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: HIV; PLWHA; enzyme immunoassays; screening; serostatus