       Document 0975
 DOCN  M94A0975
 TI    Physician agreement with recommended therapeutic guidelines for the
       management of HIV disease.
 DT    9412
 AU    Sestak P; Donald KJ; Hogg RS; Craib KJ; Strathdee SA; O'Shaughnessy MV;
       Montaner JS; British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St.
       Paul's; Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(2):237 (abstract no. PB0961). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94371600
 AB    OBJECTIVES: To assess patterns of management of HIV infection and
       related diseases in B.C. and to determine physican characteristics that
       predict agreement with current therapeutic guidelines. METHODS:
       Self-administered, anonymous questionnaires were mailed to 6500
       physician members of the B.C. Medical Association in 12/92. Information
       on demographics, use of preventive therapies, antiretrovirals, OI
       prophylaxis and acute OI therapies was obtained. Responses were compared
       against contemporary guidelines. Logistic regression analysis was used
       to determine whether physician characteristics (gender, age,
       geographical location, medical specialty training and level of HIV
       experience) were predictive of agreement with the guidelines. RESULTS:
       The analysis was restricted to 464 physicians who reported experience
       treating HIV-infected patients. This sample represents an estimated 90%
       of B.C. physicians experienced in the treatment of HIV disease. The
       majority of physicians were male (75%), aged 30-45 years (59%),
       residents of metropolitan Vancouver (52%) and had medical specialty
       training (54%). Fifty percent of physicians did not have active HIV+
       patients in their practices at the time of the survey, 36% had 1 to 4,
       and 15% had 5 or more patients. Physicians who were currently treating
       HIV+ patients (p < .001), who were less than 45 years of age (p = .018)
       and had no medical speciality training (p < .001) were more likely to
       agree with the guidelines regarding use of preventive therapies.
       Antiretrovirals were more often prescribed by male physicians (p = .010)
       under the age of 45 (p < .001), who had active HIV+ patients (p < .001).
       Physicians with active HIV+ patients were more likely to agree with the
       guidelines for PCP prophylaxis (p < .001) and medical speciality
       training (p = .032) were more likely to agree with the guidelines on the
       use of acute OI therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians actively involved in
       the care of HIV-infected individuals are more likely to agree with
       contemporary therapeutic guidelines. While specialists were more likely
       to agree regarding acute OI management guidelines, family physicians
       were more likely to agree with preventive therapy guidelines.
 DE    Adult  Age Factors  British Columbia  Human  HIV Infections/*THERAPY
       Male  Middle Age  *Physicians  Physicians, Family  Practice
       Guidelines/*STANDARDS  Questionnaires  Specialties, Medical  MEETING
       ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

