ADOLESCENTS PREFERENCES REGARDING HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS (HIV)-RELATED PHYSICIAN COUNSELING AND HIV TESTING

Objective. To assess adolescents' preferences regarding human immunode ficiency virus (HIV)-related physician counseling and HIV testing. Des ign. Anonymous, self-report survey. Setting. Metropolitan Boston publi c schools. Participants. Students in 9th and 12th grade from 10 school s. Results. Of the 845 students (99%) who completed the survey, 53% we re female, 50% seniors, and 76% white. Although 86% had regular physic ians, only 27% reported ever discussing HIV with a physician. The majo rity wanted a physician to give them information about sexually transm itted 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%), an d HIV (72%). Seniors, students with female physicians, and students wh o 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 discus sion about safe sex (59%), condoms (67%), sex (69%), and homosexuality (78%). More students preferred to speak with physicians (36%) than wi th family members (16%) or teachers (2%) about their personal risk of acquiring HIV, although 32% preferred to speak with friends. More pref erred 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 thei r regular physicians' offices. Conclusions. Adolescents want physician s to give them information and to ask personal questions about HIV and HIV-related risk behaviors, and they prefer that the physicians initi ate the discussion. Although they have no clear preference for testing sites, many teenagers prefer to be tested by someone who does not kno w them.