Abstract
BackgroundTwo trials were conducted to compare emergency department patient comprehension of rapid HIV pre-test information using different methods to deliver this information.MethodsPatients were enrolled for these two trials at a US emergency department between February 2005 and January 2006. In Trial One, patients were randomized to a no pre-test information or an in-person discussion arm. In Trial Two, a separate group of patients were randomized to an in-person discussion arm or a Tablet PC-based video arm. The video, "Do you know about rapid HIV testing?", and the in-person discussion contained identical Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-suggested pre-test information components as well as information on rapid HIV testing with OraQuick®. Participants were compared by information arm on their comprehension of the pre-test information by their score on a 26-item questionnaire using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test.ResultsIn Trial One, 38 patients completed the no-information arm and 31 completed the in-person discussion arm. Of these 69 patients, 63.8% had twelve years or fewer of formal education and 66.7% had previously been tested for HIV. The mean score on the questionnaire for the in-person discussion arm was higher than for the no information arm (18.7 vs. 13.3, p ≤ 0.0001). In Trial Two, 59 patients completed the in-person discussion and 55 completed the video arms. Of these 114 patients, 50.9% had twelve years or fewer of formal education and 68.4% had previously been tested for HIV. The mean score on the questionnaire for the video arm was similar to the in-person discussion arm (20.0 vs. 19.2; p ≤ 0.33).ConclusionThe video "Do you know about rapid HIV testing?" appears to be an acceptable substitute for an in-person pre-test discussion on rapid HIV testing with OraQuick®. In terms of adequately informing ED patients about rapid HIV testing, either form of pre-test information is preferable than for patients to receive no pre-test information.
Highlights
Two trials were conducted to compare emergency department patient comprehension of rapid human immunodeficiency virus Tablet PC (HIV) pre-test information using different methods to deliver this information
In Trial Two, we compared a separate group of patients who were randomized to an in-person discussion to those randomized to receive HIV pre-test information from the educational video, "Do you know about rapid HIV testing?"[10] The video and the in-person discussion contained the same Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-recommended elements on pre-test HIV information as well as the same information specific to rapid HIV testing with OraQuick®
In Trial Two, the video information arm patients watched the 9.5 minute animated and live-action educational video "Do you know about rapid HIV testing?"[10] that contained the same rapid HIV pre-test information elements presented to the in-person discussion arm
Summary
Two trials were conducted to compare emergency department patient comprehension of rapid HIV pre-test information using different methods to deliver this information. At least 25% are infected with HIV and are unaware of their infection To help those infected with HIV learn their HIV status, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advocate expanding HIV testing in non-traditional test settings, such as emergency departments (EDs) [2,3]. Rapid HIV testing might further reduce the number of persons unaware of their HIV status by streamlining the HIV testing process and by making HIV testing more readily available in a variety of locations. To help facilitate HIV testing, the CDC recommended that traditional pre-test counseling be simplified by separating the routine requirement for pre-test information from the as needed provision of prevention counseling
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