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HIV-Infected Health Care Professionals: Public Opinion About Testing, Disclosing, and Switching

HIV-Infected Health Care Professionals: Public Opinion About Testing, Disclosing, and Switching Abstract Background: We wanted to know what the public believes about the risks of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission in health care settings, and what opinions the public holds regarding HIV-infected health care professionals. We also wanted to uncover the correlates and predictors of those opinions. Methods: A telephone survey of a nationwide random probability sample of adults was conducted in summer 1991. Thirteen hundred fifty adults completed the survey. The response rate was approximately 63%. We assessed (1) public opinion about whether HIV-infected physicians, surgeons, and dentists should quit working, and (2) the public's self-reported intention to remain in the care of an HIV-infected professional or to switch to another provider. Results: Public concern about HIV transmission in health care settings has increased from 19% in 1988 to 38% in 1991. More of the public now believes that transmission from HIV-infected physicians is likely (up from 33% in 1988 to 46% in 1991). Yet, fewer respondents believe that HIV-infected physicians should not be allowed to work (45% vs 39%). Only 5% would deprive HIV-infected physicians of their livelihood as physicians. Fewer would switch from HIV-infected physicians now than in 1988 (56% vs 37%). Knowing someone with HIV infection was related to less concern and to less belief in likelihood of transmission as well as to increased support of HIV-infected health professionals' right to work. Conclusions: Although the public is more concerned about HIV transmission in health care settings since 1988, fewer would not allow HIV-infected health care professionals to work now than in 1988. Personalizing the epidemic, by using personal physicians and people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome as educators, might help continue the trend toward improved attitudes toward HIV-infected health care professionals.(Arch Intern Med. 1993;153:313-320) References 1. Centers for Disease Control. Possible transmission of human immunodeficiency virus to a patient during an invasive dental procedure . MMWR . 1990; 39:489-493. 2. Centers for Disease Control. Update: transmission of HIV infection during an invasive dental procedure in Florida . MMWR . 1991;40:21-27, 33. 3. Volberding PA. Physicians and the human immunodeficiency virus . West J Med. 1991;5:155-156. 4. Page Bl, Shapiro RY. Effects of public opinion on policy . Am Polit Sci Rev. 1983;77:175-190.Crossref 5. Monroe AD. Consistency between public preferences and national policy decisions . Am Polit Q. 1979;7:3-19.Crossref 6. Rogers DE, Osborn JE. Another approach to the AIDS epidemic . N Engl J Med. 1991;325:806-808.Crossref 7. Lo B, Steinbrook R. Health care workers infected with the human immunodeficiency virus . JAMA . 1992;267:1100-1105.Crossref 8. O'Rourke D, Blair J. Improving random respondent selection in telephone surveys . J Market Res. 1983;20:428-432.Crossref 9. Oldendick RW, Bishop GF, Sorenson SB, Tuchfarber AJ. A comparison of the Kish and last birthday methods of respondent selection in telephone surveys . J Official Stats . 1988;4:307-318. 10. Groves RM, Lyberg LE. An overview of nonresponse issues in telephone surveys . In: Groves RM, Biemer PP, Lyberg LE, Massey JT, Nicholls WL II, Waksberg J, eds. Telephone Survey Methodology . New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons Inc; 1988:191-211. 11. Babbie ER. Survey Research Methods . Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth Publishing Co Inc; 1973:165. 12. Fowler FJ. Survey Research Methods: Applied Social Research Methods Series . Beverly Hills, Calif: Sage Publications Inc; 1984;1. 13. Lavrakas, PJ. Telephone Survey Methods: Sampling, Selection, and Supervision . Beverly Hills, Calif: Sage Publications Inc; 1987;7. 14. Gerbert B, Maguire BT, Hulley SB, Coates TJ. Physicians and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: what patients think about human immunodeficiency virus in medical practice . JAMA . 1989;262:1969-1972.Crossref 15. Gerbert B, Maguire BT, Spitzer S. Patients' attitudes toward dentistry and AIDS . J Am Dent Assoc. 1989( (suppl) ):16S-21S. 16. Gerbert B, Sumser J, Maguire BT. The impact of who you know and where you live on opinions about AIDS and health care . Soc Sci Med. 1991;32:677-681.Crossref 17. Fitti JE, Cynamon M. AIDS knowledge and attitudes for April-June 1990: provisional data from the National Health Interview Survey. Hyattsville, Md: National Center for Health Statistics . In: Vital Health Statistic . 1990. Issue No. (195) . 18. Aoun H. From the eye of the storm, with the eyes of a physician . Ann Intern Med. 1992;116:335-338.Crossref 19. Novick A. Response to HIV infected surgeons: Behringer v Medical Center . JAMA . 1992:267:804.Crossref 20. Daniels N. HIV-infected professionals, patient rights, and the 'switching dilemma.' JAMA . 1992;267:1368-1371.Crossref 21. Centers for Disease Control. Estimates of the Risk of Endemic Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus to Patients by the Percutaneous Route During Invasive Surgical and Dental Procedures . Atlanta, Ga: Centers for Disease Control; 1991. 22. Slovic P. Perception of risk . Science . 1987;236:280-285.Crossref 23. Slovic P, Fischhoff B, Lichtenstein S. Why study risk perception? Risk Analysis. 1982;2:83-93.Crossref 24. Slovic P. Informing and educating the public about risk . Risk Analysis . 1986; 6:403-415.Crossref 25. Kasperson RE, Renn O, Slovic P, et al. The social amplification of risk: a conceptual framework . Risk Analysis . 1988;8:177-187.Crossref 26. Fishbein M, Ajzen T. Belief, Attitude, Intention, and Behavior: An Introduction to Theory and Research . Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co; 1975. 27. Bandura A. Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavior change . Psychol Rev. 1977;84:191-215.Crossref 28. Bean J, Keller L, Newburg C, Brown M. Methods for the reduction of AIDS social anxiety and social stigma . AIDS Educ Prev. 1989;3:194-221. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Internal Medicine American Medical Association

HIV-Infected Health Care Professionals: Public Opinion About Testing, Disclosing, and Switching

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References (31)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1993 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-9926
eISSN
1538-3679
DOI
10.1001/archinte.1993.00410030029005
Publisher site
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Abstract

Abstract Background: We wanted to know what the public believes about the risks of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission in health care settings, and what opinions the public holds regarding HIV-infected health care professionals. We also wanted to uncover the correlates and predictors of those opinions. Methods: A telephone survey of a nationwide random probability sample of adults was conducted in summer 1991. Thirteen hundred fifty adults completed the survey. The response rate was approximately 63%. We assessed (1) public opinion about whether HIV-infected physicians, surgeons, and dentists should quit working, and (2) the public's self-reported intention to remain in the care of an HIV-infected professional or to switch to another provider. Results: Public concern about HIV transmission in health care settings has increased from 19% in 1988 to 38% in 1991. More of the public now believes that transmission from HIV-infected physicians is likely (up from 33% in 1988 to 46% in 1991). Yet, fewer respondents believe that HIV-infected physicians should not be allowed to work (45% vs 39%). Only 5% would deprive HIV-infected physicians of their livelihood as physicians. Fewer would switch from HIV-infected physicians now than in 1988 (56% vs 37%). Knowing someone with HIV infection was related to less concern and to less belief in likelihood of transmission as well as to increased support of HIV-infected health professionals' right to work. Conclusions: Although the public is more concerned about HIV transmission in health care settings since 1988, fewer would not allow HIV-infected health care professionals to work now than in 1988. Personalizing the epidemic, by using personal physicians and people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome as educators, might help continue the trend toward improved attitudes toward HIV-infected health care professionals.(Arch Intern Med. 1993;153:313-320) References 1. Centers for Disease Control. Possible transmission of human immunodeficiency virus to a patient during an invasive dental procedure . MMWR . 1990; 39:489-493. 2. Centers for Disease Control. Update: transmission of HIV infection during an invasive dental procedure in Florida . MMWR . 1991;40:21-27, 33. 3. Volberding PA. Physicians and the human immunodeficiency virus . West J Med. 1991;5:155-156. 4. Page Bl, Shapiro RY. Effects of public opinion on policy . Am Polit Sci Rev. 1983;77:175-190.Crossref 5. Monroe AD. Consistency between public preferences and national policy decisions . Am Polit Q. 1979;7:3-19.Crossref 6. Rogers DE, Osborn JE. Another approach to the AIDS epidemic . N Engl J Med. 1991;325:806-808.Crossref 7. Lo B, Steinbrook R. Health care workers infected with the human immunodeficiency virus . JAMA . 1992;267:1100-1105.Crossref 8. O'Rourke D, Blair J. Improving random respondent selection in telephone surveys . J Market Res. 1983;20:428-432.Crossref 9. Oldendick RW, Bishop GF, Sorenson SB, Tuchfarber AJ. A comparison of the Kish and last birthday methods of respondent selection in telephone surveys . J Official Stats . 1988;4:307-318. 10. Groves RM, Lyberg LE. An overview of nonresponse issues in telephone surveys . In: Groves RM, Biemer PP, Lyberg LE, Massey JT, Nicholls WL II, Waksberg J, eds. Telephone Survey Methodology . New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons Inc; 1988:191-211. 11. Babbie ER. Survey Research Methods . Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth Publishing Co Inc; 1973:165. 12. Fowler FJ. Survey Research Methods: Applied Social Research Methods Series . Beverly Hills, Calif: Sage Publications Inc; 1984;1. 13. Lavrakas, PJ. Telephone Survey Methods: Sampling, Selection, and Supervision . Beverly Hills, Calif: Sage Publications Inc; 1987;7. 14. Gerbert B, Maguire BT, Hulley SB, Coates TJ. Physicians and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: what patients think about human immunodeficiency virus in medical practice . JAMA . 1989;262:1969-1972.Crossref 15. Gerbert B, Maguire BT, Spitzer S. Patients' attitudes toward dentistry and AIDS . J Am Dent Assoc. 1989( (suppl) ):16S-21S. 16. Gerbert B, Sumser J, Maguire BT. The impact of who you know and where you live on opinions about AIDS and health care . Soc Sci Med. 1991;32:677-681.Crossref 17. Fitti JE, Cynamon M. AIDS knowledge and attitudes for April-June 1990: provisional data from the National Health Interview Survey. Hyattsville, Md: National Center for Health Statistics . In: Vital Health Statistic . 1990. Issue No. (195) . 18. Aoun H. From the eye of the storm, with the eyes of a physician . Ann Intern Med. 1992;116:335-338.Crossref 19. Novick A. Response to HIV infected surgeons: Behringer v Medical Center . JAMA . 1992:267:804.Crossref 20. Daniels N. HIV-infected professionals, patient rights, and the 'switching dilemma.' JAMA . 1992;267:1368-1371.Crossref 21. Centers for Disease Control. Estimates of the Risk of Endemic Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus to Patients by the Percutaneous Route During Invasive Surgical and Dental Procedures . Atlanta, Ga: Centers for Disease Control; 1991. 22. Slovic P. Perception of risk . Science . 1987;236:280-285.Crossref 23. Slovic P, Fischhoff B, Lichtenstein S. Why study risk perception? Risk Analysis. 1982;2:83-93.Crossref 24. Slovic P. Informing and educating the public about risk . Risk Analysis . 1986; 6:403-415.Crossref 25. Kasperson RE, Renn O, Slovic P, et al. The social amplification of risk: a conceptual framework . Risk Analysis . 1988;8:177-187.Crossref 26. Fishbein M, Ajzen T. Belief, Attitude, Intention, and Behavior: An Introduction to Theory and Research . Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co; 1975. 27. Bandura A. Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavior change . Psychol Rev. 1977;84:191-215.Crossref 28. Bean J, Keller L, Newburg C, Brown M. Methods for the reduction of AIDS social anxiety and social stigma . AIDS Educ Prev. 1989;3:194-221.

Journal

Archives of Internal Medicine – American Medical Association

Published: Feb 8, 1993

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