Elsevier

Geriatric Nursing

Volume 32, Issue 5, September–October 2011, Pages 341-349
Geriatric Nursing

Feature Article
Older Adults and HIV and STI Screening: The Patient Perspective

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2011.05.002Get rights and content

To explore patient provider interactions regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening of older adults in Connecticut through a focus group approach. Older adults were defined as individuals over 64 years old. Two focus groups convened. The data analysis revealed that the majority of participants had not been screened for HIV or STIs and had not talked with their health care providers about sexual health in recent years. The lack of conversation about sexual health and sexual health screening was the major barrier to sexual health screening. Instigation of the conversation of sexual health and a positive relationship with the health care provider were suggested to overcome these barriers. Health care providers have an important role in initiating conversation about and screening patients for STIs, including HIV. The media, specifically television, was identified as a potential avenue for successful health education.

Section snippets

Background

The at-risk population for HIV among community dwelling older adults has shifted since the 1980s. Receiving a potentially HIV-contaminated blood transfusion was a prominent risk factor for the development of AIDS in older adults for many years.4 However, as blood transfusion has posed little risk of HIV transmission in the United States for over 2 decades, older adults now have a much more similar risk profile for the development of HIV to the majority of the U.S. population. For older women,

Methods

This qualitative focus group study was designed to explore patient experiences around screening of and communication about HIV, STIs, and sexuality, in order to improve the ability to screen older adults. Two focus groups were held at 2 different senior centers. Inclusion criteria were of age greater than 64, English speaking, and willing to talk about sensitive subjects such as sexuality. Each focus group was recruited to have 6 to 12 individuals based on Kruger and Casey's guidelines for

Results

Participants in this study ranged in age from 66 to 90. There were 5 male participants in group 1 with a mean age of 82 and 9 female participants in group 2 with a mean age of 77 years. All participants identified themselves as white. Ten participants had a high school education, 2 had some college, and 2 did not complete high school. One participant had an advanced practice nurse as a primary care provider and the rest had physicians. Six of the total number of participants saw their health

Discussion

This focus group study was conducted to describe how older adults and their health care providers are discussing sexual health and screening practices for STIs and HIV.

In general, it appears that health care providers did not ask older adults about their sexual health or talk about sexually transmitted infections or HIV/AIDS. This is consistent with the findings of previous studies.1, 32, 33 The focus group participants also did not bring up the topic of sexual health, as the general attitude

MONICA S. SLINKARD, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC, WHNP-BC, is a recent graduate from the Yale School of Nursing, New Haven, CT and is currently working at Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care in Washington, DC, as an APRN.

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    MONICA S. SLINKARD, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC, WHNP-BC, is a recent graduate from the Yale School of Nursing, New Haven, CT and is currently working at Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care in Washington, DC, as an APRN.

    MEREDITH WALLACE KAZER, PhD, CNL, APRN, A/GNP-BC, is an Associate Professor at Fairfield University School of Nursing, Fairfield, CT.

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