Hospital services for people with HIV infection in Flanders: patients' satisfaction

Two questionnaire surveys about satisfaction with hospital services were ca rried out among HIV-infected people in Flanders. In a first survey (CIRCA ' 93 study) between 1993 and 1995, before highly active antiretroviral treatm ent (HAART) was available, questionnaires were distributed by HIV treatment centres, general practitioners and HIV support organizations: 315 people w ith HIV infection completed the questionnaire. The level of patient satisfa ction was generally higher with services at university hospitals than at ge neral hospitals. Most patients preferred to be hospitalized in a ward speci alized in HIV care. Contact with other HIV-infected patients was generally experienced as supportive. The second survey included 34 patients with HIV- infection and 83 patients with lung disease. They were admitted to the same ward at the Antwerp University Hospital, between July 1996 and July 1997. Patients with HIV infections were expecting more services than patients wit h lung disease. Both studies showed that HIV-infected patients wanted to be actively involved in diagnostic and treatment decisions. The multidiscipli nary approach, offered by the Antwerp University Hospital, was widely appre ciated by patients and could be used as an example for organizing patient c are for other diseases.