Patient satisfaction with outpatient human immunodeficiency virus care as delivered by nurse practitioners and physicians.

Primary care of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) presents major challenges for the nurse practitioner. HIV disease is a chronic illness requiring frequent visits to the primary care provider and a treatment regimen that is complex and often poses difficulty in patient adherence. A patient satisfaction survey designed to include aspects of care specific to HIV was given to HIV-positive individuals presenting for care at an urban medical teaching clinic. Fifty-two patients with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome completed the patient satisfaction survey between February and May 1994. Overall satisfaction with patient care was high. When nurse practitioners were compared with physician providers, however, nurse practitioners fared more favorably in the areas relating to clinic waiting time, provider knowledge about the disease, continuity of care, and patient education.