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Cingolani A, Tavelli A, Calvino GV, Maggiolo F, Girardi E, Cozzi-Lepri A, Perziano A, Meli P, Camposeragna A, Mattioli S, Calzavara D, Gagliardini R, Nozza S, Antinori A, d'Arminio Monforte A. Awareness and perception of accuracy of the Undetectable=Untransmittable message (U=U) in Italy: results from a survey among PLWHA, infectious-diseases physicians and people having unprotected sex. AIDS Care 2022; 35:923-933. [PMID: 35579404 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2022.2074960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Evidences on the absence of risk of sexual transmission of HIV by persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) with undetectable plasma HIV-RNA (HIV-RNA <200 copies/ml) led to the worldwide campaign "U = U" (undetectable = untransmittable). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perceived accuracy of this message among PLWHA, HIV-negative people having unprotected sex (PHUS) and infectious diseases' (ID) physicians in Italy. A nationwide survey has been conducted using three different anonymous questionnaires (for ID physicians, PLWHA and PHUS). A total of 1121 participants filled the questionnaires: 397 PLWHA; 90 physicians; 634 PHUS. Awareness of U = U message has been reported in 74%, 92% and 47% of PLWHA, ID physicians and PHUS, respectively. The perception of accuracy of the U = U message among those aware was reported as high in 80.4%, 79.5% and 67.3% of PLWHA, ID physicians and PHUS, respectively. Physicians perceived that 11% of PLWHA have a high rate of perception of U = U, whereas among PLWHA, only 34% reported definitive positive messages from physicians. Discrepancies between awareness and perception of accuracy of the message U = U in PLWHA and physicians have been found, suggesting still low confidence in the community regarding the message itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Cingolani
- Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Infectious Diseases Unit, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - F Maggiolo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - E Girardi
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, Epidemiology Unit, Rome, Italy
| | | | - A Perziano
- Associazione Arcobaleno AIDS, Torino, Italy
| | - P Meli
- Associazione Comunità Emmaus, Bergamo Fast Track City, Italy
| | - A Camposeragna
- Coordinamento Nazionale Comunita' di Accoglienza (CNCA), Roma, Italy
| | | | | | - R Gagliardini
- HIV/AIDS Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - S Nozza
- Department of Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - A Antinori
- HIV/AIDS Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - A d'Arminio Monforte
- ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, University of Milan, Infectious Diseases Unit, Milan, Italy for ICONA Fundation Study Group
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- Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Infectious Diseases Unit, Rome, Italy
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