JAMA & ARCHIVES
Arch Fam Med
SEARCH
GO TO ADVANCED SEARCH
HOME  PAST ISSUES  TOPIC COLLECTIONS  CME  PHYSICIAN JOBS  CONTACT US  HELP
Institution: STANFORD Univ Med Center  | My Account | E-mail Alerts | Access Rights | Sign In
  Vol. 2 No. 1, January 1993 TABLE OF CONTENTS
  Archives
  •  Online Features
  Original Contributions
 This Article
 •References
 •Full text PDF
 •Send to a friend
 • Save in My Folder
 •Save to citation manager
 •Permissions
 Citing Articles
 •Citation map
 •Citing articles on HighWire
 •Contact me when this article is cited
 Related Content
 •Similar articles in this journal

Responses of Health Care Professionals to Proposed Mandatory HIV Testing

Marian R. Passannante, PhD; Donald B. Louria, MD

Arch Fam Med. 1993;2(1):38-44.


Abstract

Objective
To survey active health professionals to assess the response to and impact of a mandatory human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing policy on health care providers and the communities in which they practice.

Design and Setting
Anonymous four-page survey of active health professionals at 13 hospitals in northern and central New Jersey.

Participants
1557 physicians and nurses responded to the survey. Response rate was approximately 41%.

Intervention
Hypothetical intervention.

Main Outcome Measures
Responses to a series of questions relating to a hypothetical mandatory HIV testing policy for health professionals.

Results
Approximately three fourths of all surveyed health professionals stated that a mandatory testing policy would persuade individuals in their profession not to work in high-prevalence areas. Among those who currently work in high-prevalence HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) areas, only 51% said that they would definitely or probably remain in that area should such a policy be instituted. Among those practicing surgery or performing invasive procedures, 7% currently avoid HIV-positive patients, and an additional 34% said that they would do so under the proposed testing policy. Finally, 4% of these professionals currently advise others to stop working in high-prevalence areas, and an additional 22% state that they would definitely do so if the proposed policy were instituted.

Conclusions
If physicians and nurses behaved in accordance with their survey responses, institution of a mandatory HIV testing policy would create a shortage of physicians and nurses in high-prevalence HIV/AIDS areas.



Author Affiliations

From the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey—New Jersey Medical School, Newark.



THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Reflections After 9 Years of Working With Patients With Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: What I Have Learned
Bauman
Arch Fam Med 1993;2:55-58.
ABSTRACT  




HOME | CURRENT ISSUE | PAST ISSUES | TOPIC COLLECTIONS | CME | PHYSICIAN JOBS | HELP
CONDITIONS OF USE | PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT US | SITE MAP
 
© 1993 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.