Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33504326›Full record

ArticleBMC family practice2021

A survey of the involvement of primary care doctors in HIV prevention and care in a low-prevalence, high-income setting.

Greta Tam, Ngai Sze Wong, Shui Shan Lee

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC family practice, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.2field-weighted citation impact, top 48% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Greta TamSchool of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, 1/F, Patrick Manson Building (North Wing), 7 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Ngai Sze WongStanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Jockey Club School of Public Health & Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 204-208 Postgraduate Education Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong.
Shui Shan LeeStanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Jockey Club School of Public Health & Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 204-208 Postgraduate Education Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong. sslee@cuhk.edu.hk.ORCID 0000-0003-1448-765X
Chinese University of Hong Kong · HKUniversity of Hong Kong · HK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn high-income countries with a low HIV prevalence, primary care doctors are likely the first point of medical contact for people at high risk of HIV. One of the key factors for successful implementation of preventive measures is the cooperation of primary healthcare providers. Hong Kong's population mostly seek primary care in the private sectors. Our study evaluated the involvement of private primary healthcare providers in HIV prevention and care.

methodsA cross-sectional postal structured questionnaire was administered to 1102 private primary care doctors in Hong Kong in December 2017. Responses were received via postal mail, fax or online. Non-respondents received a phone-call reminder to complete the survey. Descriptive analyses were performed for all the question items. Chi-square test was used to assess the association between participants' level of involvement in HIV prevention and care and their demographics and medical practice characteristics.

resultsThe response rate was 17.9% (197/1102). Most of the respondents were Chinese (95%) and have obtained their primary medical qualifications in Hong Kong (72%). More than half of the doctors have practiced in the private sector for more than 20 years (54%). Six aspects were used to evaluate practices or involvements in HIV prevention or care: Most of the responding doctors had offered advice (61%) and/or HIV test (76%) to patients with high-risk behaviors. However, fewer doctors had diagnosed HIV (27%), provided care for HIV positive patients (21%), reported HIV cases (19%) or prescribed antiretrovirals (4%). Nine (4.5%) did not answer all six questions on their practices or involvements in HIV prevention or care. The remaining respondents were then categorized into no/low involvement group and high involvement group. Overall,71% had no/low involvement (133/188) compared to 29% who had high involvement (55/188). Factors associated with high involvement included being in the 50-59 age group (OR: 2.48, 95% CI: 1.12-5.5), and belonging to a large practice (OR: 3.16, 95% CI: 1.4-7.12).

conclusionsOverall, most private primary care doctors in Hong Kong have no or low involvement in HIV prevention and care. However, most were willing and experienced in providing general preventive services, such as HIV testing and advice.

Indexed as

HIV InfectionsPhysicians, Primary CareCross-Sectional StudiesHumansPrevalencePrimary Health CareSurveys and QuestionnairesHIVPrimary careSurvey

Identifiers

PMID33504326
PMCPMC7842046
OpenAlexW3123300878

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.