AEGiS-09IAC: Predictors of failure to receive early intervention for HIV.

9th International AIDS Conference


Berlin, Germany — June 6-11, 1993

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Predictors of failure to receive early intervention for HIV.

Int Conf AIDS 1993 Jun 6-11; 9:120 (abstract no. WS-D17-1)
Hecht F, Wachter R, Heller K, Chesney M; Univ. of California, San Francisco.

PURPOSE: To determine the demographic, behavioral, and health system factors associated with failure to receive early intervention (EI) for HIV.

METHODS: Patients (pt's) admitted to San Francisco General Hospital were screened to identify pt's admitted for the first time with an AIDS defining illness. Demographic information was gathered by chart review, and consenting patients were interviewed.

RESULTS: From 8-1-92 to 1-15-93, 96 pt's were hospitalized for the first time. Of these, 80% saw a physician because of HIV before the current illness, 60% had received AZT, and 57% had received PCP prophylaxis. Of 49 pt's interviewed to date, 47% received HIV care before developing HIV related symptoms, 29% received care after developing symptoms, and 24% received no care prior to admission. Gay men and IDU's did not differ significantly in the stage at which they received care. However, trends toward differences in how pt.'s coped with HIV test results were found, with active coping associated with earlier care (p = .06) and avoidance associated with lack of care (p = .12). Among pt's receiving no care, 9/11 (82%) had seen an MD at least once in the past year.

CONCLUSIONS: 1) Over 50% of pt.'s did not receive HIV care until after they developed symptoms. 2) How pt's coped with HIV test results may be an important predictor of failure to obtain EI, and may be more important than HIV risk behaviors. 3) Most pt's failing to receive EI have seen an MD in the past year, suggesting that missed opportunities for the health care system to connect pt's with HIV care are common.

Keywords: AEGIS, Respiratory Insufficiency, HIV Infections, Homosexuality, Male, HIV Seropositivity, Anti-HIV Agents, San Francisco, Human, Male, ICA9KWDaegis,respiratoryinsufficiency,hivinfections,homosexuality,male,hivseropositivity,anti-hivagents,sanfrancisco,human,male,ica9
930606
WSD171

Copyright © 1993 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.