title: Patients' understanding of blood tests and attitudes to HIV screening in the emergency department of a Swiss teaching hospital: a cross-sectional observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Switzerland, patients may undergo "blood tests" without being informed what these are screening for. Inadequate doctor-patient communication may result in patient misunderstanding. We examined what patients in the emergency department (ED) believed they had been screened for and explored their attitudes to routine (non-targeted) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1st October 2012 and 28th February 2013, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted among patients aged 16-70 years old presenting to the ED of Lausanne University Hospital. Patients were asked: (1) if they believed they had been screened for HIV; (2) if they agreed in principle to routine HIV screening and (3) if they agreed to be HIV tested during their current ED visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 466 eligible patients, 411 (88%) agreed to participate. Mean age was 46 ± 16 years; 192 patients (47%) were women; 366 (89%) were Swiss or European; 113 (27%) believed they had been screened for HIV, the proportion increasing with age (p ≤ 0.01), 297 (72%) agreed in principle with routine HIV testing in the ED, and 138 patients (34%) agreed to be HIV tested during their current ED visit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this ED population, 27% believed incorrectly they had been screened for HIV. Over 70% agreed in principle with routine HIV testing and 34% agreed to be tested during their current visit. These results demonstrate willingness among patients concerning routine HIV testing in the ED and highlight a need for improved doctor-patient communication about what a blood test specifically screens for.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biology and Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Timothée
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Favre-Bulle
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biology and Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baudat
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Service, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Katharine E A
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Darling
authors.affiliation: Service of Immunology and Allergy, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mamin
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Solange
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Service, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavassini
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hugli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012698:Serologic Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland; D055815:Young Adult