Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of an electronic reminder in primary healthcare in patients diagnosed with an indicator condition (IC) to improve HIV screening.
Methods: We developed a prospective interventional study in 51 primary healthcare centres in Barcelona randomly assigned into one of two study groups: control and alert. Between June 2018 and May 2019, an electronic reminder appeared in the electronic medical record each time a diagnosis of an IC in patients aged 16-65 years was registered in the alert group. We assessed HIV testing rates within 4 months following the diagnosis of an IC.
Results: In all, 13 000 patients were diagnosed with at least one IC. HIV testing was more likely in the alert group than in the control group. The electronic reminder multiplied the odds of being tested in men by 1.26 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-1.52, p = 0.019], by 1.77 (95% CI: 1.33-2.38, p < 0.001) among patients aged < 50 years , and by 1.51 (95% CI: 1.20-1.92, p < 0.001) in diagnoses of IC other than a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or an AIDS-defining illness. Five (0.08%) cases of HIV were detected in the control group and 10 (0.17%) in the alert group.
Conclusions: Implementing an electronic reminder had a positive impact on HIV screening rates in patients diagnosed with an IC. The alert was more effective among older patients, those living in less socioeconomically deprived neighbourhoods, and those with an IC other than an STI or an AIDS-defining illness.
Keywords: HIV testing; early diagnosis; electronic reminder; indicator conditions; primary healthcare.
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