Between March and August 2000, we conducted a
cross-sectional survey of 372 English-speaking patients
ages 18–65 years who had been offered an HIV test by
their health care provider during a visit to the UCC of
Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. An informational,
low-literacy brochure on HIV testing was given to all
patients upon registration into the UCC. The brochure
was written at a level appropriate for patients with a
reading level at or below the sixth grade, as assessed
by the Flesch-Kincaid scale.29
Patients were approached and screened for study
participation by trained interviewers immediately after
completion of their visit to the UCC. Demographic
information was obtained during the participation eligibility
screening. Patients both refusing and assenting
to HIV testing were enrolled. Excluded from enrollment
were patients who had received an HIV test during the
previous 6 months and those in the UCC to receive