Changing treatment regimens for HIV infection: impact on referral patterns and training needs of family physicians

New antiviral medications and laboratory testing have revolutionized the care of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The development of complex treatment regimens has intensified debate about whether care should be restricted to experts in HIV care. Few studies detail how these new treatment regimens are affecting family physicians' desire to continue providing care or need for additional training.

A questionnaire eliciting personal, training, and practice demographics and attitudinal information was distributed to family physicians attending the 1996 Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Family Physicians who completed an HIV continuing education workshop.

The questionnaires were completed by 202 family physicians from 48 states. More than 60 percent had received training or had practiced in states with a high rate of HIV, and 143 (70 percent) had cared for at least 1 HIV-infected patient in the previous 6 months. Ninety-five percent did not expect to curtail their provision of care and believed that family physicians should become more active in the care of HIV-infected patients. Medical journals were the most requested format for ongoing education in this area, with combination antiviral therapy and new staging laboratory tests the most requested topics.

The recent changes in HIV care regimens did not appear to have a major impact on family physicians' desire to continue to provide care for HIV-infected patients. Professional societies responsible for certification and continuing education might be interested in additional surveys to validate these results among larger samples nationwide.