Objective
To survey active health professionals to assess the response to and impact of a mandatory human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing policy on health care providers and the communities in which they practice.
Design and Setting
Anonymous four-page survey of active health professionals at 13 hospitals in northern and central New Jersey.
Participants
1557 physicians and nurses responded to the survey. Response rate was approximately 41%.
Intervention
Hypothetical intervention.
Main Outcome Measures
Responses to a series of questions relating to a hypothetical mandatory HIV testing policy for health professionals.
Results
Approximately three fourths of all surveyed health professionals stated that a mandatory testing policy would persuade individuals in their profession not to work in high-prevalence areas. Among those who currently work in high-prevalence HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) areas, only 51% said that they would definitely or probably remain in that area should such a policy be instituted. Among those practicing surgery or performing invasive procedures, 7% currently avoid HIV-positive patients, and an additional 34% said that they would do so under the proposed testing policy. Finally, 4% of these professionals currently advise others to stop working in high-prevalence areas, and an additional 22% state that they would definitely do so if the proposed policy were instituted.
Conclusions
If physicians and nurses behaved in accordance with their survey responses, institution of a mandatory HIV testing policy would create a shortage of physicians and nurses in high-prevalence HIV/AIDS areas.
