title: Family physicians and HIV infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to describe the current and desired involvement of family physicians (FPs) in the treatment of HIV patients (screening practices, potential training and patient follow-up) to reduce the duration and frequency of their hospital treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional survey between 2011 and 2012 with the support of COREVIH (Regional Coordinating Committee on HIV). We sent a self-assessment questionnaire to all FPs of the Pays de la Loire region to enquire about their HIV screening practices and expectations for the management of HIV patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 871 FPs completed the questionnaire (response rate: 30.4%). A total of 54.2% said to provide care to HIV patients; the mean number of HIV patients per FP was estimated at 1.4. With regard to HIV screening, 12.2% systematically suggest an HIV serology to their patients and 72.7% always suggest it to pregnant women. About 45.4% of responding FPs said to be willing to manage HIV patients (clinical and biological monitoring, compliance checks and prescription renewal). FPs mainly reported the lack of training and the low number of HIV patients as a barrier to their further involvement in the management of HIV patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The responding FPs provide care to very few HIV patients. They are, however, willing to be more involved in the routine care of these patients. Medical training provided by COREVIH would help improve HIV screening. The management of HIV patients could thus be handed over to willing FPs.
authors.affiliation: Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, CHU de Nantes, 44000 Nantes, France. Electronic address: nolwenn.hall@chu-nantes.fr.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, CHU d'Angers, 49100 Angers, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Crochette
authors.affiliation: Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, CHU d'Angers, 49100 Angers, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blanchi
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine générale, faculté de médecine, 49045 Angers, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lavoix
authors.affiliation: Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, CHU de Nantes, 44000 Nantes, France; COREVIH des Pays de la Loire, 44035 Nantes cedex, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Billaud
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine générale, faculté de médecine, 49045 Angers, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.affiliation: Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, CHU d'Angers, 49100 Angers, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abgueguen
authors.affiliation: Service de MPU-infectiologie, CHD de la Roche-sur-Yon, 85925 La Roche-sur-Yon, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perré
authors.affiliation: Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, CHU d'Angers, 49100 Angers, France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rabier
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Dépistage du VIH; General practice; HIV screening; HIV/AIDS; Médecine générale; VIH/sida