Health Equity Matters and the Australasian HIV, Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine Society (ASHM) invites GPs, nurses and practice managers working in private practice to submit an expression of interest to participate in a six-month trial of HIV opt-out testing (OOT).
Background
The National HIV Testing Policy has been updated to include OOT in general practice. Historically, HIV OOT has been used routinely in antenatal care and emergency departments with high HIV prevalence.
The rate of new diagnoses continues to trend downward and although this is a great success for the response, progress is not consistent across different priority populations and settings. Where the rate of late diagnoses is disproportionately higher and testing rates are relatively low, the HIV OOT model can offer improved coverage of HIV testing to reduce late diagnoses and transmission rates.
Aim
The first aim of this project is to implement the HIV OOT model within general practice outpatient services. The second aim is to trial and evaluate the implementation to generate a body of evidence to encourage broader adoption of the HIV OOT model in general practice.
Since the use of the HIV OOT model is novel in general practice, this project will identify and understand the barriers and enhancers of the HIV OOT model.
Project Details
A reference group (including a doctor, nurse or practice manager from your clinic) will guide the development of a clinical protocol and educational resources. General practitioners/nurses will then attend a short induction into the clinical protocol to initiate the implementation period (six-months).
During this period, clinic representatives will meet once a month to discuss the progress of the trial. At the end of the six months, we will conduct a short interview with one to two of the doctors/nurses (or practice manager) from your clinic.
Prof Martin Holt and Dr Anthony K Smith from the Centre for Social Research in Health will conduct an analysis and evaluation of the six-month trial (ethics approval received). Results will be published in an academic journal and a report.
Criteria
We are looking for general practitioners, nurses and practice managers in all states/territories that work in general practice. We are interested in all general practice clinics and in particular, clinics that service the following priority populations: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities (excluding ACCHO’s or AMS’s), CALD and multicultural communities, outer urban populations, rural/regional areas and university/international student health services.
Click here to express your interest.
Disclaimer: This article was provided by Australasian HIV, Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine Society (ASHM). While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate, North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network does not warrant or represent the accuracy, currency and completeness of any information or material included within.
