title: HIV Testing for At-Risk Adolescents at Rhode Island Hospital.
abstract: Early detection of HIV has great potential to reduce transmission, especially when newly diagnosed individuals are treated early. Early treatment and suppression of viral loads is known to effectively attenuate HIV transmission. However, little is known about whether persons at high risk for HIV are being appropriately tested during healthcare encounters according to national guidelines. Specifically, the at-risk adolescent population may be under tested and are not routinely monitored by state-level surveillance system. This study reviewed HIV testing rates for at-risk adolescents from 2005-2012 at the main tertiary care and pediatric center in Rhode Island. While the absolute number of HIV tests for at-risk adolescents continued to increase, the HIV testing rates for this population decreased during the seven year period. Increasing awareness of HIV testing for patients, their families, and physicians may improve the HIV testing rate among at-risk adolescents in Rhode Island.
authors.affiliation: The Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Hyeon-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ryoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Floating Hospital for Children of Tufts Medical Center.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nazareth
authors.affiliation: The Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Division of Infectious Diseases, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Lifespan Information Services, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Reinert
authors.affiliation: The Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Department of Pediatrics, Hasbro Children's Hospital of Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D019562:Viral Load
keywords: HIV; adolescents; testing