학술논문

Missed opportunities for HIV testing in newly-HIV-diagnosed patients, a cross sectional study.
Document Type
Article
Source
BMC Infectious Diseases. 2013, Vol. 13 Issue 1, p1-10. 10p. 1 Diagram, 4 Charts.
Subject
*HIV-positive persons
*HEALTH services accessibility
*MEN who have sex with men
*RISK assessment
*CROSS-sectional method
*DIAGNOSIS
*DISEASES
Language
ISSN
1471-2334
Abstract
Background: In France, 1/3 HIV-infected patients is diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease. We describe missed opportunities for earlier HIV testing in newly-HIV-diagnosed patients. Methods: Cross sectional study. Adults living in France for ⩾1 year, diagnosed with HIV-infection ⩽6 months earlier, were included from 06/2009 to 10/2010. We collected information on patient characteristics at diagnosis, history of HIV testing, contacts with healthcare settings, and occurrence of HIV-related events 3 years prior to HIV diagnosis. During these 3 years, we assessed whether or not HIV testing had been proposed by the healthcare provider upon first contact in patients notifying that they were MSM or had HIV-related conditions. Results: 1,008 newly HIV-diagnosed patients (mean age: 39 years; male: 79%; MSM: 53%; diagnosed with an AIDSdefining event: 16%). During the 3-year period prior to HIV diagnosis, 99% of participants had frequented a healthcare setting and 89% had seen a general practitioner at least once a year. During a contact with a healthcare setting, 91/191 MSM (48%) with no HIV-related conditions, said being MSM; 50 of these (55%) did not have any HIV test proposal. Only 21% (41/191) of overall MSM who visited a healthcare provider received a test proposal. Likewise, 299/364 patients (82%) who sought care for s had a missed opportunity for HIV testing. Conclusions: Under current screening policies, missed opportunities for HIV testing remain unacceptably high. This argues in favor of improving risk assessment, and HIV-related conditions recognition in all healthcare facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]