Chilean Health Care Providers’ Perceived Comfort in Performing Oral Rapid Testing for HIV: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objectives: To understand key factors influencing Chilean health care providers’ perceived comfort performing oral rapid HIV testing. Design: One hundred and fifty health care providers completed a self-administered questionnaire that included a five-item scale measuring self-perceived comfort in conducting HIV pretest counseling, oral rapid testing, finger-prick testing, and delivering test results. Results: Most participants (60%) envisioned good overall comfort performing oral rapid HIV testing (mean score of 16.21; range 0-20), including doing at least four of the five steps. They perceived least comfort delivering HIV-positive test results during posttest counseling. HIV stigmatizing attitudes reduced self-perceived comfort. Conclusions: Providing training to counter HIV stigmatization while increasing comfort in performing oral rapid testing would help facilitate its successful implementation.