HIV Infection and South-West General Practitioners

Abstract

GENERAL PRACTITIONERS in the Severn Faculty of the Royal College of General Prac titioners were asked about their knowledge and practice in dealing with HIV infected patients. 62% responded to our anonymous questionnaire. Overall, four-fifths of the doctors expressed confidence in their ability to advise HIV antibody positive patients on sexual activity, drug abuse and domestic activities. Only 61% were confident of their ability to advise such patients on pregnancy. Differences in screening policy and measures of awareness were related to location of practice by county within the Region and to the presence of HIV infected patients on individual lists. The findings are discussed in relation to previous surveys of general practitioners in the UK.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Anderson, P. and Mayon-White, R. General Practitioners and management of infection with HIV. Br. Med. J., 1988; 296: 535-537. 2 Scott , R.T.A. Attitudes towards patients infected with HIV. J. R. Coll. Gen. Pract., 1987; 37: 629-530.

Editorial: AIDS HIV and general practice, J. R. Coll. Gen. Pract., 1987; 37: 289-290.

Searle. E.S. Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of health professionals in relation to AIDS. Lancet, 1986;1: 26-28.

Dhss Aids : Monitoring responses to the public education campaign. February 1986-February 1987 . H.M.S.O., London, 1987.

Smithson, R.D. Public and health staff knowledge about AIDS . Comm. Med., 1988; 10: 221-227.

Moss, A.R. AIDS and intravenous drug abuse: the real heterosexual epidemic. Br. Med. J., 1987; 294: 389-390.

Sibbald, B. , Pharaoh, C. , Freeling, P. and Anderson, H.R. AIDS - is general practice meeting the challenge? J. Roy. Coll. Gen. Pract., 1988; 38: 32.

Johnstone, F.D. , Maccallum, L. , Brettle , R. , Inglis, J.M. and Peutherer , J.F. Does infection with HIV affect the outcome of pregnancy? Br. Med. J., 1988; 296: 467.

Boyton, R. and Scambler, G. Survey of general practitioners' attitudes to AIDS in the North West Thames and East Anglian regions. B. Med. J., 1988 ; 296: 538-540.

10.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the United Kingdom: 2. Communic able Disease Report 1988. Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, London.

11.

Milne, R.I.G. and Keen, S.M. Are general practitioners ready to prevent the spread of HIV? Br. Med. J., 1988; 296: 533-535.

12.

Evans, B.A. , Mccormack, S.M. , Bond , R.A. , Macrae, K.D. and Thorp, R.W. Human Immunodeficiency virus infection, hepatitis B virus infection and sexual behaviour of women attending a genitourinary medicine clinic. Br. Med. J., 1988; 296: 473-475.

13.

Whitfield, M. and Bucks, R. (1988) General practitioners' responsibilities to their patients. B. Med. J., 1988; 297: 398-400.