Do physicians discuss HIV testing during prenatal care?
OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency with which Hamilton, Ont, general practitioners and family physicians discussed and offered HIV testing during prenatal care. DESIGN: Cross-sectional mailed survey. SETTING: Family physicians' and general practitioners' offices in Hamilton, including group or solo private practices and community health centres. PARTICIPANTS: General practitioners and family physicians in Hamilton identified from the Ontario Medical Association and the 1995 Canadian Medical Directory. Two hundred forty-one practitioners were sent surveys; 25% had moved or no longer practised family medicine, and 65% (140 of 216) were returned. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Frequency with which physicians discuss with and offer HIV testing to prenatal patients. RESULTS: Eighty percent of clinicians felt they understood their professional role in providing HIV testing, and more than 90% had referred female patients for HIV testing. Eight percent of physicians always discussed HIV when reviewing pregnancy care, and 5% always offered HIV testing to patients in the first trimester of pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, few physicians discuss HIV testing with all their prenatal patients.