Yale University

Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Testing Practices Among Buprenorphine-prescribing Physicians.

TitleHuman Immunodeficiency Virus-Testing Practices Among Buprenorphine-prescribing Physicians.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsEdelman, Jennifer E., An T. Dinh, Brent A. Moore, Richard S. Schottenfeld, David A. Fiellin, and Lynn E. Sullivan
JournalJournal of addiction medicine
Date Published2012 Feb 24
ISSN1932-0620
AbstractBACKGROUND:: Despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for annual HIV testing of at-risk populations, including those with substance use disorders, there are no data on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing practices of buprenorphine-prescribing physicians. OBJECTIVE:: To describe HIV testing practices among buprenorphine-prescribing physicians. METHODS:: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of physicians enrolled in a national system to support buprenorphine prescribing between July and August 2008. The electronic survey included questions on demographics; clinical training and experience; clinical practice; patient characteristics; and physician screening practices, including HIV testing. RESULTS:: Only 46% of 382 respondent physicians conducted HIV testing. On univariate analysis, physicians who conducted HIV testing were more likely to report addiction specialty training (33% vs 19%, P = 0.001), practicing in addiction settings (28% vs 16%, P = 0.006), and having treated more than 50 patients with buprenorphine (50% vs 31%, P < 0.0001) than those who did not. Compared with physicians who did not conduct HIV testing, physicians who conducted HIV testing had a lower proportion of buprenorphine patients who were white (75% vs 82%, P = 0.01) or dependent upon prescription opioids (57% vs 70%, P < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, physicians who conducted HIV testing were more likely to have treated more than 50 patients with buprenorphine (odds ratio = 1.777, 95% CI 1.011-3.124) and had fewer patients dependent upon prescription opioids (odds ratio = 0.986 95% CI 0.975-0.998) than physicians who did not. CONCLUSIONS:: Interventions to increase HIV testing among physicians prescribing buprenorphine are needed.
DOI10.1097/ADM.0b013e31824339fc

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