Interdisciplinary HIV care--patient perceptions.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Infectious Diseases
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Interdisciplinary care models are increasingly recognized for optimizing patient outcomes.
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) management requires a multidisciplinary approach to address complex patient needs.
• Assessing patient perceptions is crucial for evaluating and improving healthcare service delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate patient satisfaction with services provided at an interdisciplinary HIV clinic.
• To gauge perceptions of care quality and the roles of various healthcare professionals in HIV primary care.
• To identify areas for service development and improvement in HIV outpatient settings.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire, adapted from a validated HIV-specific patient satisfaction study, was administered to adult patients (n=104) at their return visits.
• The survey included items assessing overall care quality and specific interdisciplinary services.
• Data analysis focused on mean scores for care quality and interdisciplinary care items.

Main Results:

• Patients reported high overall satisfaction with clinic services, with mean scores of 3.79 for care quality and 3.69 for interdisciplinary care (on a 4-point scale).
• Respondents highlighted the significant contributions of nurses, pharmacists, and social workers to their care.
• The study indicates positive patient reception to an interdisciplinary model of HIV care.

Conclusions:

• The interdisciplinary HIV outpatient care model demonstrates high patient satisfaction.
• Findings suggest that integrating non-physician providers is beneficial for routine HIV medical visits.
• While generalizability is limited by potential biases, the study offers valuable insights for HIV service improvement.