Private MD News

Some adults still avoid clinical STD tests

Category: HIV

STD tests can help ensure early detection of potentially deadly diseases as well as prevent the spread of viruses and infections. Some individuals feel, though, that there are government agents making use of these results behind the use of these tests and refuse to take them, especially in older populations. Clinicians are fighting back against the falsehood that STD test givers carry any nefarious motives, but some Americans still feel to the contrary. 

The Gerontologist​, an Oxford Journal, featured a study revealing that one-fourth of all HIV and AIDS patients today is over 50, but many of these individuals will go undiagnosed until it's too late for clinicians to provide  effective care. What's more, a simple STD test could have helped them determine if they were at risk of carrying these diseases. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles looked at more than 200 people seeking medical attention in California medical clinics over the age of 50 to see how many of them tested positive for HIV or AIDS. Participants in the clinical study were reporting to health centers for various physical ailments that they did not feel were associated with an STD.

The study showed that about one-third of participants said they believed AIDS was a government conspiracy, while three-fourths said they held other beliefs about civil agencies regarding AIDS and HIV. This indicates that some people may avoid getting adequate STD testing out of fear of secondary uses of their blood samples and other biological materials in a professional healthcare environment.

Other tests still an option
Lab tests ordered online may help older adults and Americans of all ages get a better idea of their overall health. Judith Hibbard​, of the University of Oregon, found that patients who were engaged in their personal care saw better long-term results and reductions in overall costs associated with this end, The Atlantic reported.

Hibbard analyzed more than 30,000 patients in the Minnesota health system to find how engaged or activated these individuals were. Those who disclosed the most data honestly to their attending physicians were able to receive accurate diagnoses and treatment in a much faster and more practical fashion than others who chose to withhold important details. Such as the case with reticent HIV or AIDS cases, fostering a more engaged mentality in the diagnosis of these conditions could help get people the care they need in a more timely fashion.