Abstract
Purpose: One in eight people living with an HIV infection in the United States is unaware of their status. Rapid HIV testing (RHT) is an easily used and accepted screening tool that has been introduced in a limited number of clinical settings. The purpose of this study was to investigate patient acceptability, certainty of their decision, and willingness to pay for screening if RHT was offered in university-based dental hygiene clinics.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 426 patients at three dental hygiene clinics in New York City over a period of four months. The survey questionnaire was based on the decisional conflict scale measuring personal perceptions; with zero indicating extremely high conflict to four indicating no conflict. Patients were assessed for their acceptance of RHT, provider preference for administration of the test and their willingness to pay for RHT.
Results: Over half (72.2%) indicated acceptance of HIV testing in a dental hygiene clinic setting; with 85.3% choosing oral RHT, 4.9% fingerstick RHT, and 8.8% venipuncture. Respondents were amenable to testing when offered by dental hygienists (71.7%) and dentists (72.4%). Over 30% indicated their willingness to receive HIV testing in the dental setting when offered at no additional cost. The mean decisional conflict score was 3.42/4.0 indicating no decisional conflict.
Conclusions: Patients are willing to undergo oral RHT when offered as a service and provided by dental hygienists in the dental setting. Patients appear to be aware of the benefits and risks associated with RHT. Further research is needed to evaluate the public health benefits and logistical challenges facing the delivery of RHT within in the dental setting.
Footnotes
Susan H. Davide, RDH, MS, MSEd is an associate professor in the department of dental hygiene, New York City College of Technology, Brooklyn, NY; Anthony J. Santella, DrPH, MPH, MCHES, is an associate professor in the department of health professions, public health program, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY; Winnie Furnari, RDH, MS, FAADH is a clinical professor in the dental hygiene programs, New York University, New York, NY; Petal Leuwaisee, RDH, MA is assistant professor in the department of allied health, dental hygiene program, Hostos Community College, Bronx, NY; Marilyn Cortell, RDH, MS, FAADH is associate professor in the department of dental hygiene, New York City College of Technology, Brooklyn, NY; Bhuma Krishnamachari, PhD, is an associate professor and assistant dean of research, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY
This manuscript supports the NDHRA priority area Population level: Health services (community interventions).
- Received December 2, 2016.
- Accepted May 29, 2017.
- Copyright © 2017 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association