title: How should a positive HIV result be given? The patients' view.
abstract: The study aimed at obtaining information about the experience of how the diagnosis of HIV infection was given. Thirty asymptomatic HIV seropositive subjects completed a self-report questionnaire enquiring about their views of the process of communication of a positive test result. Subjects' current mood was assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). Only about one-third of subjects were definitely satisfied with the way they were told the diagnosis. Satisfaction was associated with perceived reassurance and sympathy, and with the quality of the information given. The views of patients, as reported in this study, should be taken into account when training staff in the notification of HIV test results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, South Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Centre, Charing Cross & Westminster Medical School (University of London), UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pergami
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Catalan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hulme
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gazzard
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations