PRIMARY-CARE PHYSICIANS AND BARRIERS TO PROVIDING CARE TO PERSONS WITH HIV AIDS/

Primary care physicians play an increasingly important role in the car e of persons with HIV/AIDS due to the rising number and changing geogr aphic distribution of persons infected with HIV/AIDS. The study explor ed the relationship between barriers to health services and the experi ence and willingness of primary care physicians to care for persons wi th HIV/AIDS. The study was based on a random survey of primary care ph ysicians in South Carolina, The results indicate that although primary care physicians' willingness to treat persons with HIV/AIDS is signif icantly associated with many self-reported barriers (i.e., financial, structural, knowledge, and attitudinal), their HIV/AID care experience war most significantly correlated with self-reported knowledge that o verrides financial and structural barriers. The results emphasize the importance of programs and policy initiatives aimed at enhancing the p rimary care physicians' knowledge level and improving their attitudes related to HIV/AIDS.