PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - S A Naji
AU  - I T Russell
AU  - C J Foy
AU  - M Gallagher
AU  - T J Rhodes
AU  - M P Moore
TI  - HIV infection and Scottish general practice: knowledge and attitudes.
DP  - 1989 Jul 01
TA  - The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
PG  - 284--288
VI  - 39
IP  - 324
4099  - http://bjgp.org/content/39/324/284.short
4100  - http://bjgp.org/content/39/324/284.full
SO  - J R Coll Gen Pract1989 Jul 01; 39
AB  - To assess the knowledge and attitudes of general practitioners about HIV infection, a postal survey was undertaken of one in three of all principals in Scotland; 834 (77.6%) responded. Respondents' knowledge about HIV was often limited, and they found the discussion of sexual behaviour difficult. Most were in favour of routine HIV testing being offered to patients, but against testing without consent. Most general practitioners considered consent unnecessary for the passing of information about HIV status between medical colleagues, but necessary for informing others, in particular the patient's family and sexual partners. Most general practitioners would accept high-risk and HIV-positive patients onto their lists but less than half would accept intravenous drug users. Most respondents did not feel at significant personal risk of HIV infection, but expressed reservations about many other aspects of HIV infection in general practice. If practitioners are to fulfil their potential for tackling the problems of HIV infection, they need increased resources and a policy for education and training that is responsive to local needs.