AIDS-related competence of California's primary care physicians

Abstract

We conducted a telephone survey of a random sample of primary care physicians practicing throughout the State of California to determine their AIDS-related experiences and competencies. Interviews were completed early in 1986 with 1,000 family and general practitioners and internists, 60 per cent of those eligible. Data on practice experiences reflect the increased incidence of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The proportion of practitioners in rural areas who evaluated possible cases (17 per cent), and counseled patients at risk (50 per cent) indicated the generalized nature of the problem. Compared to similar data obtained in 1984, levels of competency in diagnosing and counseling persons with AIDS-related disorders increased in Los Angeles. However, on a statewide basis, a majority of those interviewed lack the AIDS-related knowledge and skills required to carry out their roles in dealing with AIDS. Competency was associated with physicians' personal and professional characteristics and their level of discomfort in dealing with homosexuals.