DEMAND PATTERNS FOR HIV-TESTS IN GENERAL-PRACTICE - INFORMATION COLLECTED BY SENTINEL NETWORKS IN 5 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

This study describes a 1 year international data collection on the dem and pattern for HIV-antibody tests in general practice recorded by 6 s entinel networks in 5 European countries. The purpose of the recording was to evaluate the use of HIV-antibody testing by general practition ers and the demand for testing among the general population. Sentinel networks of general practitioners are a possible and available instrum ent for monitoring the perception of the HIV-test, and indirectly of t he threat of the HIV-epidemic by the public and by the general practit ioners (GPs). Differences were found between the countries in the freq uency of testing, the person asking the test and the reason for testin g. Possible explanatory factors, such as differences in the routine te sting of specific groups, differences in the training and in the role of the GP, differences in the characteristics of prevention policy, ar e discussed. The European comparison also offers the opportunity to re flect on common medical practice in dealing with demands for HIV-tests .