Telling patients about the diagnosis of HIV infection

Abstract

This study used a questionnaire to examine how patients in the HIV/AIDS Clinic at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital were told of their diagnosis, by whom, and to what degree they were given emotional and educational support. Nearly 17% of patients were informed by someone not in the health professions (often military personnel), and 27% of patients were notified in a nonprivate setting. Forty-seven percent indicated they received little or no educational support at the time of diagnosis, while 39% received little or no emotional support. Educational and emotional support for patients at the time of HIV diagnosis may be lacking.

How HIV infected haemophiliacs in Japan were informed of their HIV-positive status

“…For HIV-infected patients, information such as details of treatments and health care, information and precautions for daily life as well as safer sex practices, and available support services are important and should be given at the time of noti cation (Epstein, 1991;Farber et al, 1996;Guthrie & Barton, 1995;Pattullo et al, 1996;Pergami et al, 1994;Tarui, 1992). This study shows, however, that the overall contents of the explanations being given at the time of noti cation were poor.…”