PREOPERATIVE HIV ANTIBODY TESTING - THE VIEWS OF SURGEONS AND PATIENTS

Fifty surgeons and 72 preoperative patients in 2 central London hospit als were asked their views on preoperative HIV antibody testing, who i s at risk of HIV infection and HIV test counselling. A substantial pro portion of both surgeons and preoperative patients, 48% and 54% respec tively, supported compulsory HIV antibody testing without patient cons ent. They believed this should occur as a routine practice prior to su rgery. However, surgeons and patients differed in the preoperative pat ients to be considered for such testing. All surgeons advocating compu lsory testing believed that it was only necessary for those patients b elonging to high risk groups whilst preoperative patients believed tha t all patients should be HIV tested prior to surgery. Surgeons and pat ients also differed in their views on who was at risk of HIV infection . Surgeons believed those at risk to be members of identifiable risk g roups whilst patients believed everyone was at risk, especially those engaging in high risk behaviours. Finally, when asked which health pro fessionals they thought should be involved in HIV test counselling, bo th surgeons and patients agreed that hospital doctors, including surge ons themselves, should take on the responsibility of test counselling. The implications of this and routine HIV antibody testing are discuss ed.