The expressed needs of a group of HIV-infected gay men subsequent to hospital care.

A qualitative study was conducted to explore how a group of HIV-infected gay men experienced their encounters with the health care community and to develop a theoretical understanding of the care given from the patient's perspective. Ten HIV-infected gay men were recruited from an outpatient clinic in a city in the southeastern part of the United States. Collection and analysis of data was conducted with a qualitative approach using a constant comparative method. The themes summarizing the findings were integration, recognition, security, availability of facilities, and confirmation. These themes contain both negative and positive experiences and conceptualize different needs from a patient's perspective. The role of the nurses' attitudes to and perceptions of gay HIV-infected men was emphasized.