Impact on HIV test providers of giving a positive test result

Abstract

The provision of a positive HIV antibody test result and the direction and support given to the test recipient are critical components of care and prevention. There has been little research that describes what happens in such interactions between recipient and provider. The impact on the test provider of delivering the HIV test result is an important issue to consider. The discomfort experienced by some health providers in giving a positive test result may have adverse effects on the client interaction or may carry over into subsequent client interactions. Utilizing a thematic analysis on interview data from 24 HIV test providers, we describe the impact of delivering a positive test result on HIV test providers, identify the factors that influence this impact, and describe strategies used to manage the impact. As with other health care professionals communicating “bad news,”HIV test providers experience a variety of impacts. While a small number of providers indicated little or no impact of delivering the HIV positive test result because the diagnosis is ‘‘not the end of the world,’’ most indicated it was difficult as it was anticipated that the test recipient would (or did) find the news distressing. Several coping strategies were identified.

Acknowledgements

The research team expresses thanks to all who contributed to the study, including participants, the Advisory Committee, and staff of the AIDS Bureau, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Dr. Myers receives a fellowship from The Ontario HIV Treatment Network. Dr. Worthington receives a fellowship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. The HIV Social, Behavioural, and Epidemiological Studies Unit receives funding from the AIDS Bureau, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.