Document 0050
 DOCN  M95A0050
 TI    Adolescents' preferences regarding human immunodeficiency virus
       (HIV)-related physician counseling and HIV testing.
 DT    9510
 AU    Rawitscher LA; Saitz R; Friedman LS; New England Deaconess Hospital,
       Harvard Medical School, Boston,; MA, USA.
 SO    Pediatrics. 1995 Jul;96(1 Pt 1):52-8. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/95319835
 AB    OBJECTIVE. To assess adolescents' preferences regarding human
       immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related physician counseling and HIV
       testing. DESIGN. Anonymous, self-report survey. SETTING. Metropolitan
       Boston public schools. PARTICIPANTS. Students in 9th and 12th grade from
       10 schools. RESULTS. Of the 845 students (99%) who completed the survey,
       53% were female, 50% seniors, and 76% white. Although 86% had regular
       physicians, only 27% reported ever discussing HIV with a physician. The
       majority wanted a physician to give them information about sexually
       transmitted diseases (82%), condoms (73%), sex (70%), safe sex (80%),
       and HIV (85%). Most wanted physicians to ask about personal experiences
       with sexually transmitted diseases (64%), condoms (59%), safe sex (67%),
       and HIV (72%). Seniors, students with female physicians, and students
       who had previously discussed sex with physicians were significantly more
       likely to want physicians to ask personal questions about HIV-related
       risk behaviors. Most, however, felt uncomfortable initiating a
       discussion about safe sex (59%), condoms (67%), sex (69%), and
       homosexuality (78%). More students preferred to speak with physicians
       (36%) than with family members (16%) or teachers (2%) about their
       personal risk of acquiring HIV, although 32% preferred to speak with
       friends. More preferred to be tested for HIV by someone who did not know
       them (40%) than by someone who did (32%). When asked about specific
       testing sites, 25% preferred a place that does only HIV testing, and 22%
       preferred their regular physicians' offices. CONCLUSIONS. Adolescents
       want physicians to give them information and to ask personal questions
       about HIV and HIV-related risk behaviors, and they prefer that the
       physicians initiate the discussion. Although they have no clear
       preference for testing sites, many teenagers prefer to be tested by
       someone who does not know them.
 DE    Adolescence  Boston  Counseling  Data Collection  Female  Health
       Education  Human  *HIV Infections/DIAGNOSIS/PREVENTION & CONTROL  Male
       *Physician-Patient Relations  Risk-Taking  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
       Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).