Awareness on Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre (ICTC) among Interns and postgraduates of a Medical College in Bengaluru City

Abstract

Introduction Studies describing the awareness on Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre ICTC among medical graduates or doctors are not available India and hence the study was taken up with the followingObjectives To assess the awareness about ICTC its functions and services among medical graduates and importance of counseling before and after HIV testing among medical graduates.Materials and Methods A descriptive study among 101 interns and post graduates from various disciplines including pre-clinical paraclinical and clinical specialties of a medical college having a stand-alone ICTC and situated in Bengaluru city was conducted using a pre tested semi-structured questionnaire. Study subjects were asked about awareness about ICTC its functions services and importance of pre-test and post-test counseling. Medical graduates who have completed final year of MBBS were included as study subjects and those not willing to consent for the study were excluded from the study.Results All the study subjects had heard of ICTC but only 37.62 were aware of where the nearest ICTC was located.69.30 were aware of the services provided at an ICTC and only 63.36 knew about the tests conducted at an ICTC. Majority90.09 of the doctors were sure that the confidentiality of the test results will be maintained but only 37.62 knew what aspects should be covered in Pre and Post-test counseling.Conclusion Awareness on the key components of ICTC was not satisfactory among the subjects.