Heterogeneity of care for HIV-infected individuals decreases with the physician knowledge

In order to gain an understanding of the determinants of clinical management of HIV disease in adults just prior to the introduction of comprehensive guidelines, we undertook the present study among members of the British Columbia Persons with AIDS Society (BCPWA). The aim of this study was to examine whether the heterogeneity of care for HIV-infected individuals decreases with physician knowledge of HIV/AIDS and the stability of the physician-patient relationship. Eligible participants had to be full members (i.e. HIV positive) of the society, residents of British Columbia, and had to have previously agreed for the BCPWA society to include unsolicited material with their monthly newsletter. Our analysis demonstrates that compliance with appropriate care was associated with a more stable physician-patient relationship and with the perception on the patient's part of a greater level of knowledge on the part of their physician.