Background: Individuals at elevated risk of contracting HIV frequently fail to return for their test result. Because rapid HIV antibody testing is still not widely implemented, failure to return for test results under conditions of standard testing remains a problem.
Methods:Direct field observation and semistructured interviews with clients (N = 16) and test counselors (N = 16) of 3 community HIV testing sites were conducted.
Results: Clients faced 5 barriers to receiving their result: (1) fear, (2) busyness, (3) apathy,(4) inebriation at the time of testing, and (5) testing “on a whim.” Motivators that encouraged clients to receive their results were (1) positive counselor/client interactions, (2) client-friendly policies regarding picking up the test result, (3) clients’ psychological “need to know,” (4) incentives for picking up the result, and (5) established protocols for contacting clients who fail to return.
Conclusion: Findings highlight the need for interventions to improve the return rate for HIV results.
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Revised Recommendations for HIV Testing of Adults, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women in Health-Care Settings. Available at: www.cdc.gov/MMWR/mmwr_rr.html. Accessed November 27, 2006.
2.
Tao G, Branson BM, Kassler WJ, Cohen RA.Rates of receiving HIV test results: Data from the US National Health Interview Study for 1994 and 1995. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr.1999;22: 395-400.
3.
Marks G, Crepaz N, Janessen R.Estimated sexual transmission of HIV from persons aware and unaware that they are infected with the virus in the USA. AIDS.2006; 20: 1447-1450.
4.
Sullivan PS, Lansky A, Drake A.Failure to return for HIV test results among persons at high risk for HIV infection: Results from a multistate interview project. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr.2004;35: 511-518.
5.
Hightow LB, Miller WC, Leone PA, Wohl D, Smurzynski M, Kaplan AH.Failure to return for HIV posttest counseling in an STD clinic population. AIDS Educ Prev.2003; 15: 282-290.
6.
Wiley DJ, Frerichs RR, Ford WL, Simon PA.Failure to learn human immunodeficiency virus test results in Los Angeles public sexually transmitted disease clinics. Sex Transm Dis.1998; 25: 342-345.
7.
Zick K, Goldstein MF, Beardsley M, Deren S, Tortu S.Factors associated with HIV testing and returning for test results in a sample of out-of-treatment drug users. J Drug Issues.2000;30: 675-686.
8.
Lazebnik R, Hermida T, Szubski R, Dieterich-Colon S, Grey SF.The proportion and characteristics of adolescents who return for anonymous HIV test results. Sex Transm Dis.2001; 28: 401-404.
9.
Berger S, Hong B, Eldridge S, Conner D, Vedder K.Return rates and partner notification in HIV-positive men seeking anonymous versus confidential antibody testing. AIDS Patient Care STDS.1999;13: 363-368.
10.
Desai MM, Rosenheck RA.HIV testing and receipt of test results among homeless persons with serious mental illness. Am J Psychiatry.2004;161: 2287-2294.
11.
Stein JA, Nyamathi A.Gender differences in behavioral and psychosocial predictors of HIV testing and return for test results in a high risk population. AIDS Care.2000;12: 343-356.
12.
Catania JA, Kegeles SM, Coates TJ.Psychosocial predictors of people who fail to return for their HIV test results. AIDS.1990;4: 261-262.
13.
Bell RA, Molitor F, Flynn N.On returning for one’s HIV test results: demographic, behavioral, and psychological predictors. AIDS.1997;11: 263-264.
14.
Spielberg F, Kassler W.Rapid HIV testing: A technology whose time has come. Ann Intern Med.1996;125: 509-511.
15.
Health Research and Educational Trust. Charts comparing rapid HIV antibody screening tests. Available at: http://www.hret.org/hret/programs/hivtransmrpd.html. Accessed May 25, 2005.
16.
Lubelcheck R, Kroc K, Hota B, et al.The role of rapid vs conventional human immunodeficiency virus testing for inpatients. Arch Intern Med.2005;165: 1956-1960.
17.
Kendrick SR, Kroc KA, Couture E, Weinstein RA.Comparison of point-of-care rapid HIV testing in three clinical venues. AIDS.2004;18: 2208-2210.
18.
Spielberg F, Branson BM, Goldbaum GM, et al.Choosing HIV counseling and testing strategies for outreach settings: A randomized trial. J Acquire Immune Defici Syndr.2005;38: 348-355.
19.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Quick facts: Rapid HIV test training. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/partners/AHP/QF_Training_12-09-04.htm. Accessed January 25, 2005.
20.
National HIV Testing Resources: A Service of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Frequently-asked questions about HIV and HIV testing. Available at: http://www.hivtest.org/subindex.cfm?FuseAction=FAQ. Accessed October 3, 2005.
21.
Russell S.Changes planned in use of oral HIV test; blood to be checked quickly to confirm any positive results. San Francisco Chronicle. December 10, 2005.
22.
Grusky O, Roberts KJ, Swanson A-N, et al.Anonymous versus confidential HIV testing: client and provider decision making under uncertainty. AIDS Patient Care STDS.2005;19: 157-166.
23.
Murphy K, Grusky O, Roberts KJ, Swanson A-N.HIV testing in an urgent care clinic. Sexual Health.2005;2: 245-250.
24.
Strauss A, Corbin J.Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory Procedures and Techniques. Newbury Park: SAGE Publications; 1990.
25.
Becker MH, ed. The health belief model and personal health behavior. Health Educ Monogr.1974; 2: 409-419.
