[Attitude of established physicians to treating HIV-infected patients and to "acquired immunodeficiency syndrome". An empirical study].
BACKGROUND
There is no empirical data available on attitudes concerning AIDS and habits towards HIV infected patients of physicians in general or private practice. In this study results of a self-evaluation are presented.


METHODS
178 physicians working with out-patients in different medical fields were randomly selected for a cross sectional study and interviewed using a standardised questionnaire.


RESULTS
89% think that they are sufficiently informed about AIDS (in the USA 20%). They regarded the risk of infection to be lower than the Anglo-American physicians. They believed there is a lack of interchange of information between colleagues regarding the degree of infectiousness of referred patients. A third of the physicians fear that other patients will go elsewhere if they find out that their physician is treating AIDS patients. 54% would hold special clinic sessions for HIV-patients outside the normal schedule for practice times. 89% believed that HIV patients were partly to blame for their illness.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the physicians recognise the problem of HIV-infection, they partly deny the real necessities and facts. A reason for this could be the emotions underlying the general attitude to everything pertaining to HIV-disease. Attitudes to HIV-disease and the dealing with it in daily practice must be considered on the basis of individual emotional motives.
Loew
T H
TH
Abteilung für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
Heerwagen
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D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies
Einstellungen niedergelassener Arzte zum Umgang mit HIV-infizierten Patienten und zum "erworbenen Immunschwächesyndrom". Eine empirische Untersuchung.