Capturing the paradigm shift in HIV treatment: changing attitudes in the choice of combination antiretroviral drugs by high HIV caseload Australian GPs (1996-1997)

The use of combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection is a rapidl y changing field. To assess the impact of recent studies on prescribing pat terns, two surveys of 21 high HIV caseload Australian GPs were undertaken i n June 1996 and June 1997 to plot changes in the choice of combination anti viral therapy. Of the 17 GPs who responded to the survey in each year, the number of HIV-infected patients seen at their practices were estimated to b e 5,061 in 1996 and 5,912 in 1997 In 1996, 40% of their patients were estim ated to be on antiretroviral therapy compared to 60% in 1997 (p < 0.05). In 1996, most GPs preferred using dual combination therapy (59%); whereas in 1997, triple combination therapy was preferred (82%). Between 1996 and 1997 , there was a significant change by high caseload Australian GPs in the cho ice of antiretroviral drugs with many combinations being preferred prior to presentation of efficacy data for those combinations, or recommendation th rough national guidelines.