Barriers to general practitioners caring for patients with HIV/AIDS.

This paper describes some of the barriers to caring for people with HIV and AIDS by general practitioners. It is based on a review of the literature and on interviews with individuals. The first section examines the reasons given by interviewees for their involvement in HIV and AIDS care. The next section discusses the relationship between primary and secondary care services in the care of patients with HIV and AIDS. One of the factors previously underexplored seems to be that of who 'owns' the patients. The final section looks at GPs' involvement in services for intravenous drug users with HIV and AIDS. It is concluded that there are still considerable barriers to GPs' involvement with patients with HIV and AIDS, in particular with drug users who have HIV or AIDS. It is likely that needs for continuing training in this area are not being met.