Attitudes towards and Experience of General Practice among HIV-Positive Patients in the Republic of Ireland

Abstract

In order to study their attitudes to and experience of general practitioner care, 150 attenders at the only HIV specialist clinic in the Republic of Ireland were asked to complete an anonymous, self administered questionnaire. (81%) of respondents reported having a regular GP and 94% of those indicated that the GP was aware of their HIV diagnosis. The majority (64%) of patients with a regular GP reported seeing their doctor on more than 5 occasions during the previous year. Most patients were satisfied with the support which they received from their GPs. Even so, the majority of patients (72%) would go directly to the hospital clinic for any problem which they perceive to be HIV related.