Clinician Utilization of Best Practices for HIV Care and Status Disclosure: A Cross-Sectional Study

Victor N. Ede, Elleen Yancey, Harold Stringer, Robina Josiah Willock, Gregory Strayhorn

Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Department of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Master of Science in Clinical Research Program, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Master of Science in Clinical Research Program, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA Department of Family Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ojpm.2014.48074                

Abstract

Determining the baseline utilization of best practices among clinicians, with regard to HIV care and disclosure of status to at-risk partners, is critical to addressing HIV prevention issues and disease transmission. In this study, we examined clinicians' utilization of best practices for HIV/AIDS care and the disclosure of HIV status to sexual and needle-sharing partners (HSSNSP). We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 100 clinicians to assess knowledge, attitude, and behavior towards best practices for HIV care and disclosure of HSSNSP. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with the utilization of clinical best practices for HIV care and disclosure of HSSNSP. Forty eight percent of the participants revealed poor behaviors. Fifty six percent showed less positive attitudes towards clinical best practices for HIV care and disclosure of status. Less than half (32%) of the participants had earned at least 1 HIV/AIDS CME credit in the past two years. Our study showed strong associations between the utilization of best practices for HIV care and the disclosure of status, and clinician attitudes and knowledge levels. Further research that aims to improve knowledge and attitudes on clinical best practices for providing HIV/AIDS care and the disclosure of status is needed. This improvement may lead to increase in the utilization of best practices for HIV care and disclosure of status, and contribute to decreases in disease transmission rates.

Keywords

HIV/AIDS Care, Status Disclosure, Best Practice, Clinician, Sexual and Needle-Sharing Partners

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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