HIV testing behaviors and willingness to receive oral rapid HIV testing among dental patients in Xi'an, China

Bei Gao; Lirong Wang; Anthony J Santella; Guihua Zhuang; Ruizhe Huang; Boya Xu; Yujiao Liu; Shuya Xiao; Shifan Wang

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0248585

HIV testing behaviors and willingness to receive oral rapid HIV testing among dental patients in Xi'an, China

PLoS One. 2021 Mar 25;16(3):e0248585. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248585. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Bei Gao¹, Lirong Wang², Anthony J Santella³, Guihua Zhuang², Ruizhe Huang⁴, Boya Xu⁵, Yujiao Liu², Shuya Xiao², Shifan Wang²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthodontics, Stomatology Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
² Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
³ Department of Health Professions, School of Health Professions and Human Services, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, United States of America.
⁴ Department of Preventive Dentistry, Stomatology Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
⁵ Department of Oral Implantology, Stomatology Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.

Abstract

Introduction: HIV testing is an important strategy for controlling and ultimately ending the global pandemic. Oral rapid HIV testing (ORHT) is an evidence-based strategy and the evidence-based shows is favored over traditional blood tests in many key populations. The dental setting has been found to be a trusted, convenient, and yet untapped venue to conduct ORHT. This study assessed the HIV testing behaviors and willingness to receive ORHT among dental patients in Xi'an, China.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of dental patients from Xi'an was conducted from August to September 2017. Dental patients were recruited using a stratified cluster sampling. A 44-item survey was used to measure HIV/AIDS knowledge, HIV testing behaviors, and willingness to receive ORHT.

Results: Nine hundred and nine dental patients completed the survey with a mean HIV/AIDS knowledge score of 10.7/15 (SD 2.8). Eighty-four participants (9.2%) had previously received an HIV test. Participants would have a high rate of HIV testing if they had higher monthly income (OR = 1.982, 95% CI: 1.251-3.140) and a higher HIV/AIDS knowledge score (OR = 1.137, 95% CI: 1.032-1.252). Five hundred and eighty-two participants (64.0%) were willing to receive ORHT before a dental treatment, 198 (21.8%) were not sure, and 129 (14.2%) were unwilling. Logistic regression showed that age (OR = 0.970, 95% CI: 0.959-0.982), HIV/AIDS knowledge score (OR = 1.087, 95% CI: 1.031-1.145), previous HIV test (OR = 2.057, 95% CI: 1.136-3.723), having advanced HIV testing knowledge (OR = 1.570, 95% CI: 1.158-2.128), and having advanced ORHT knowledge (OR = 2.074, 95%: CI 1.469-2.928) were the factors affecting the willingness to receive ORHT.

Conclusions: The majority of dental patients had not previously received an HIV test, although many were receptive to being tested in the dental setting. The dental setting as a venue to screen people for HIV needs further exploration, particularly because many people do not associate dentistry with chairside screenings. Increasing awareness of ORHT and reducing testing price can further improve the patient's willingness to receive ORHT.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
China / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
HIV Infections* / diagnosis
HIV Infections* / epidemiology
HIV Testing / methods*
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Humans
Male
Mass Screening / methods*
Middle Aged
Patient Acceptance of Health Care*
Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

We would like to thank the National T&S Major Project of China (grant no. 2018ZX10721202) for supporting us. The sponsors were not involved in the study design; collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.