Clinical experience and choice of drug therapy for human immunodeficiency virus disease

To determine if providers experienced in the management of human immunodefi ciency virus (HIV) disease preferred different treatment regimens than prov iders with less experience, we analyzed data from a national survey of prim ary care providers' preferred regimens for the management of 30 HIV-related medical conditions. We mailed questionnaires to 999 correct addresses of p roviders in >20 cities in the United States in May 1996, We received 524 re sponses (response rate, 52%). We found a statistically significant associat ion between the number of HIV-infected patients cared for by the provider a nd the likelihood that the provider would report prescribing highly active antiretroviral therapy and multidrug combinations for treatment of opportun istic infections. Providers with few HIV-infected patients were substantial ly less likely to report using new therapeutic regimens or new diagnostic t ools. We concluded that the preferred regimens of experienced providers are more likely to be consistent with the latest information on treatment for HIV disease than are those of less experienced providers.