Is anybody talking to physicians about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and sex? A national survey of patients
B. Gerbert, T. Bleecker and J. Bernzweig
School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco.
OBJECTIVE: We wanted to know what proportion of the US population had
spoken with a physician about sex and the acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS). In particular, we wanted to know whether patients who were
at risk for sexually transmitted diseases, including human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV), had had such discussions. DESIGN: A telephone survey of a US
nationwide random probability sample of adults was conducted in the summer
of 1991. PATIENTS: The survey was completed by 1350 adults; of these, 1312
were patients, defined as those who reported that they had been to a
physician within the last 5 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: We assessed
whether patients reported having had discussions about sex and AIDS with
physicians. RESULTS: Only 259 (20%) of patients in our survey reported that
they had talked with a physician about AIDS. Fifty-five (21%) of those who
had talked with a physician about AIDS reported that the physician started
the discussion. Few patients reported that they had spoken with a physician
even when it appeared vital that they do so: 46 (26%) of those who reported
that their chances of getting the AIDS virus were "high" or "medium" and 25
(23%) of those who reported being at behavioral risk for AIDS had spoken to
a physician about AIDS. CONCLUSIONS: Few patients reported having discussed
sex and AIDS with a physician, even if the patients considered themselves
to be at risk for contracting HIV or another sexually transmitted disease.
More of these discussions must take place to prevent the spread of sexually
transmitted diseases and AIDS and to facilitate testing and early treatment
of HIV-infected individuals.
