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Biomedical subjects

A C Tipton

Publications and source records attributed to A C Tipton.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Perseverance pays off: health care providers' impact on HIV testing decisions by adolescent females.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although HIV counseling and testing of adolescents has increased rapidly in recent years due to increasing HIV seroprevalence rates, little is known about adolescents' use of HIV testing services. The aims of this study were to determine what proportion of high risk adolescent girls would use confidential HIV testing services linked to primary care and to explore the characteristics, beliefs, and experiences that distinguish those teenage girls who obtain HIV testing in this setting from those who do not. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: General pediatrics clinic with adolescent-specific appointments at a large urban HMO. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 124 adolescent girls engaging in risky behaviors identified by chart review before regularly scheduled clinic appointments. INTERVENTION: Subjects completed a self-report questionnaire assessing HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors before the medical visit. During their provider visit, teens were counseled about their risk behaviors and the availability of HIV testing services at the clinic. Subjects were also given the opportunity to view an educational video about HIV testing designed for adolescents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Use of HIV counseling and testing services at the clinic and HIV test results. RESULTS: Forty-one percent of these adolescent girls obtained HIV testing at the clinic on the day of their scheduled appointment. Univariate analysis revealed that adolescents who obtained testing had initiated sexual intercourse at a younger age (mean age 13.8 vs 14.4 years, P = .02) and were more likely to have had a prior discussion about HIV testing with a health care provider [RR = 2.02, 95% CIs (1.22, 3.36)]. Those who did not view the video were less likely to test [RR = 0.20, 95% CIs (0.07, 0.58)]. Multiple logistic regression modeling revealed that a prior discussion with a health care provider was the only independent predictor of obtaining an HIV test [OR = 3.47 95% CIs (1.26, 9.52)]. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of adolescent girls engaging in risky behaviors will use confidential HIV counseling and testing services that are linked to primary care. Health care providers play an important role in helping teens address their risk for and concerns about HIV infection by engaging adolescents in repeated discussions about HIV testing.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

The incidence of Chlamydia pneumoniae lower respiratory tract infections among university students in northern California.

Chlamydia pneumoniae has recently been identified as a cause of lower respiratory tract infections. From March 1987 to March 1988, 259 university students-151 students with lower respiratory tract infections and 108 controls-from the University of California, Berkeley, were studied to determine the incidence and pattern of C pneumoniae lower respiratory tract infections. Serologic evidence of a recent C pneumoniae infection was found in less than 2%, and the organism was not isolated from any of the subjects. Despite the paucity of evidence of a recent infection, 47.5% of this university population showed serologic evidence of a previous C pneumoniae infection. The lower incidence of C pneumoniae infection in our population, when compared with previous reports, suggests that there may be geographic and temporal differences or fluctuations among populations.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Relationship of optimism, knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs to use of HIV antibody testing by at-risk female adolescents.

This study's purpose was to examine the extent to which optimism, knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs predict use of HIV testing services in a group of at-risk female adolescents. We prospectively interviewed 124 consecutive girls engaging in risky behaviors before regularly scheduled pediatric clinic appointments at a large urban HMO. Subjects completed a self-report questionnaire assessing optimism (Scheier's Life Optimism Test, or LOT), HIV-related knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors before their regular visit. At the visit, they were counseled about risky behaviors and the availability of confidential HIV testing at the clinic. All subjects were next given an opportunity to view an educational video about HIV testing and then decided whether or not to obtain testing. LOT scores were not associated with HIV-related knowledge, perceived risk, self-efficacy, condom expectations, or most risky behaviors, including higher levels of recent unprotected intercourse. LOT scores were higher among those who did not view the video and were also higher among those who did not obtain an HIV test. We conclude that higher optimism is not necessarily associated with HIV protective behaviors among adolescent girls and, depending on the context, may serve as a barrier to HIV prevention in this population.

Adolescent↗