ACCEPTABILITY OF SHARED CARE FOR ASYMPTOMATIC HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS

In Britain, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) disease has been seen a s an illness requiring specialist hospital care at all times. However, as its chronic nature has become apparent, the possibility that it co uld be managed more cost effectively in primary care has been raised. This has led to increasing interest in 'shared care', that is, care wh ich is shared between a general practitioner and a specialist accordin g to clear protocols, for this group of patients. However, for 'shared care' to be a success, it must be acceptable to all concerned: patien ts, GPs and specialists. This paper presents our experience of recruit ing asymptomatic HIV-positive patients into a shared care programme: a fter 10 months' recruitment only 19 of 128 eligible patients had accep ted the offer of shared care. The reasons for this, and alternative st rategies for increasing GP involvement, are discussed.