HOW SHOULD AN AIDS DIAGNOSIS BE GIVEN - THE VIEWS OF PATIENTS

The report aimed at obtaining information about patients' experience o f how the diagnosis of AIDS was given to them by their doctors, and ab out patients' satisfaction with the consultation. Thirty people with A IDS completed a self-report questionnaire enquiring about their views and satisfaction with the process of communication of the diagnosis. R esults showed that about two-thirds of patients were satisfied, while almost a quarter were definitely not satisfied with the consultation. Satisfaction was associated with the general attitude of the person gi ving the diagnosis and with the quality of the information given. The relevance of the findings for the training of doctors is discussed.