A NIDA-funded study shows that one-third of emergency department patients who initially declined to be tested for HIV changed their minds after watching a 16-minute video. This video described the importance of testing as well as demonstrated how an HIV test can be conducted without drawing blood (i.e., orally) and provide results in approximately 20 minutes.
Because emergency departments often serve populations that have little or no other access to care, HIV testing at these sites can be critical in promoting earlier diagnosis to guide patients to treatment and to reduce continued transmission.
For a copy of the study abstract, published online July 27, go to: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10461-014-0853-5.
For more information, contact the NIDA press office at media@nida.nih.gov or 301-443-6245.