Compulsory HIV antibody testing, universal precautions and the perceived risk of HIV: A survey among medical students and consultant staff at a London teaching hospital

Abstract

Routine screening of patients and health care staff for HIV has not been endorsed by the medical profession. Instead universal precautions have been recommended as being the most effective way of minimizing the occupational risk of HIV infection. Consultant staff and undergraduate medical students at the Royal Free Hospital and School of Medicine, London, were asked about their attitudes towards compulsory HIV antibody testing, their compliance with universal precautions and their perceived risk of HIV infection. A substantial proportion of staff and students supported compulsory HIV antibody testing for patients, health care workers and certain subgroups of the population. Most of the clinical students and about half the consultants failed to comply with universal precautions. Staff and students saw themselves at greater risk of HIV infection in the hospital than in their personal lives. Clearly, these beliefs and practices must be taken into account when introducing a policy of universal precautions.