HIV infections and AIDS in Danish general practice--the role of the GP in AIDS prevention

The occurrence and geographical distribution of HIV infections and AIDS (HIV/AIDS) in Danish general practice were examined in a questionnaire study sent to a 10% random sample of the GPs. Response rate was 92%. In 1988, a total of 2969 patients were tested, median 10 patients per GP. GPs had 148 HIV-positive patients (66 in Greater Copenhagen) and 60 AIDS patients (27 in Greater Copenhagen). In Greater Copenhagen 37% of the GPs had neither HIV nor AIDS patients, vs. 71% in the rest of the country. Instruction in infection prophylaxis was usually initiated by the GPs, while HIV testing was mainly on the patient's initiative. 52% of GPs indicated a change in their routine, particularly with respect to sterilization of instruments and avoidance of direct contact with blood. An extrapolation of the results of this study indicates that about 1,500 of the estimated 2,000 HIV positive patients in Denmark are known by general practitioners.