ATTITUDES TOWARDS AND EXPERIENCE OF GENERAL-PRACTICE AMONG HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS IN THE REPUBLIC-OF-IRELAND

In order to study their attitudes to and experience of general practit ioner care, 150 attenders at the only HIV specialist clinic in the Rep ublic of Ireland were asked to complete an anonymous, self administere d questionnaire. (81%) of respondents reported having a regular GP and 94% of those indicated that the GP was aware of their HIV diagnosis. The majority (64%) of patients with a regular GP reported seeing their doctor on more than 5 occasions during the previous year. Most patien ts were satisfied with the support which they received from their GPs. Even so, the majority of patients (72%) would go directly to the hosp ital clinic for any problem which they perceive to be HIV related.