February 16, 2005 01:26 PM US Eastern Timezone

Physicians and General Public Favor Mandatory HIV Testing; Views Support Findings of Recent Medical Report

FLEMINGTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 16, 2005--Results of a new national survey of 864 physicians and 1,339 members of the general public revealed that a significant majority of both groups believe that mandatory, federally funded HIV testing would improve the overall health of the U.S. population.

The national e-survey was conducted by HCD Research during February 12 -14, as part of its continuing investigation of the social, political and economic issues confronting the U.S. health care system. The margin of error in the survey was plus or minus 3% at a 95% confidence level.

The survey revealed that among the general public:
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        -- 63% of Americans believe that mandatory, federally funded HIV testing would improve the overall health of the U.S. population

        -- 60% indicated that the associated health care benefits of mandatory, federally funded HIV testing outweigh the social implications

        -- 40% indicated that the social implications of mandatory, federally funded HIV testing outweigh the associated health care benefits

The most frequently cited social concerns of those representing the general public who were not in favor of mandatory testing were:

        Difficulty obtaining life insurance 76%

        Job/employment issues 71%

The least frequently reported social concerns were:

        The cost of testing is too high for public funding 52%

        Difficulty in marriage and other social relations 51%

        Inadequate access to medical and psychological counseling 46%

Among the sample of physicians:
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-- 64% believe that mandatory, federally funded HIV testing would improve the overall health of the U.S. population

-- 59% reported that the associated health care benefits of mandatory, federally funded HIV testing outweigh the social implications

-- 41% indicated that the social implications of mandatory, federally funded HIV testing outweigh the associated health care benefits

The most frequently cited social concerns by physicians who were not in favor of mandatory testing were:

        Difficulty obtaining life insurance 84%

        Job/employment issues 77%

The least frequently reported social concerns were:

        Difficulty in marriage and other social relations 48%

        Inadequate access to medical and psychological counseling 44%

        The cost of testing is too high for public funding 34%

"Physicians are a distinct group who share similar education, income and status in society, and it is intriguing that their views reflect those of the general public on serious and evolving health care issues such as this one," noted Glenn Kessler, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, HCD Research.