AIDS education practices among Massachusetts physicians

Physicians have a major role to play in the prevention of AIDS transmission. Promotion of health behaviors needs to be expanded beyond the traditional AIDS high risk populations; however, little information is available on the AIDS education practices of physicians. A survey of Massachusetts physicians in four specialty groups, Family Medicine Practitioners, Internists, Obstetricians/Gynecologists and Pediatricians, was conducted to determine the extent of their AIDS education practices. Three hundred and ninety one physicians returned the questionnaire for an overall response rate of 66%. Sixty three percent (63%) of the physicians surveyed educate patients they believe to be at least at moderate risk for AIDS transmission or exposure. However, neither physicians screening for patients' AIDS risk status nor the content of the AIDS education was uniform. Also, very few physicians have received specific training in AIDS education. A number of practice, patient, and physician characteristics were found to be related to educational practices. This study suggests that a more comprehensive screening of patients' participation in AIDS risk behaviors be conducted as part of medical history taking, and that more comprehensive education be provided to those patients determined to be at least at moderate risk for AIDS transmission or exposure.