9th International AIDS Conference Berlin, Germany — June 6-11, 1993

Int Conf AIDS 1993 Jun 6-11; 9:124 (abstract no. WS-D21-1)
Morin M, Obudia Y, Souville M, Galais H, Gamby T, Mostii JP; Lab of Social Psychology, Aix en Provence.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: One third of all GPs in Marseille (the third French city for incidence rate of AIDS care in 1992) were randomly selected for a telephone interview (answer rate = 78.6%; average length of interview = 53'; respondents n = 313; non-respondents n = 83). Interviews were carried out in May-June 1992.

RESULTS: A large majority of respondents seem to adhere to liberal and tolerant social norms in relation with prevention of HIV infection; 90.3% supported "development of sexual education in schools". 68.0% declared that "gay people should be considered as any others," 69.0% opposed the idea the "IV-drug users should be treated as criminals" and 82.4% opposed HIV mandatory screening for the whole population. However, majorities (83.4% and 80.2%) supported prenatal and premarital mandatory screening for HIV in contradiction with the official point of view of French public Health authorities. Respondents opposed any disclosure of results of HIV test without explicit patient's consent to third parties such as Ministry of Health (82.3%) or insurance companies (93.7%) and even with patient's consent (63.9% and 80.0%). A total of 72.2%, 65.8%, 61.7% opposed any obligation for an HIV-infected physician to inform the Ministry of Health, his colleagues or his patients of his serological status. But, only 53.8% and 33.5% will continue to address their patients or family members to a surgeon they know is HIV infected, and, 64.5.% and 78.9% agree that with HIV testing can be decided without informing the patient before surgery or following an occupational needlestick injury. Past experience with care of HIV carriers and individual perception of occupational risk of HIV infection influence GPs ethical attitudes but their personal "way of life" and cultural opinions also play a direct role.

CONCLUSION: In the case of HIV, French GPs seem to remain attached to fundamental values of medical ethics (like medical secrecy) but only to the extent that it does not create major conflicts of interest between patients' and physicians' (as individuals or as medical profession) rights. Importance of "extra-medical" factors in GPs clinical attitudes also suggest that they should be taken into account to identify and motivate those physicians more willing to engage themselves in ambulatory care for HIV infected persons.
930606
WSD211

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