BMJ  2003;326 (31 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7400.0-d

"Opt-out" consent increases uptake of HIV screening

Introducing routine serological testing increases the acceptability and uptake of HIV screening in genitourinary medicine clinics. Stanley and colleagues (p 1174) audited the introduction of routine rather than selective HIV screening in 400 patients and found that uptake was almost doubled. Including HIV in the package of screening tests did not reduce the uptake of syphilis screening. These findings supplement those of Read and Winceslaus ( BMJ 2003;326: 1066-7[Free Full Text]) who found, when reviewing their genitourinary clinic database, that replacing the usual lengthy oral counselling with a shorter, written explanation of the main points about testing doubled the rate of uptake of HIV testing.

BSIP/FILIN, HERRERA/SPL

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Relevant Article

Uptake of HIV screening in genitourinary medicine after change to "opt-out" consent

Belinda Stanley, Jane Fraser, and N H Cox
BMJ 2003 326: 1174. [Full Text] [PDF]