PRACTICE OBSERVED
HIV and
measures
to control
infection in general practice
Chris Foy, Morris Gallagher, Tim Rhodes, Jo Setters, Peter Philips, Cam Donaldson, John Bond, Michele Moore, Simon Naji by family practitioner committee area and number of Objective-To assess the impact of HIV on principals in the practice. Each doctor was asked to procedures to control infection in general practices. complete a four page questionnaire that examined the effect of HIV on clinical procedures and measures to Design-A postal questionnaire survey. control cross infection in general practice and the Setting-General practices throughout Britain. Subjects-5359 General practitioners, 3429 doctor's knowledge of the infectivity and virology of HIV. We have already reported the doctors' response (63.9%) of whom returned the questionnaire. Main outcome measure-Response to question- to questions about their contact with people at risk of naire on knowledge about HIV and policies for HIV infection or who had HIV infection or AIDS and their beliefs and intentions about several issues related controlling infection. to HIV and AIDS, such as health education, clinical to wear started doctors (2018) had Results-Most gloves when taking blood. Almost half (1510) had not care, and confidentiality.2 Two postal reminders were resheathed needles previously but a further 776 had sent to non-responders. The questionnaire was adopted this policy because of HIV. Over half of the developed in collaboration with the Health Services Health Care Research doctors did not know or were unsure about the risk of Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, which underUnit, infection from needlestick injuries, and 1759 had no took an identical and simultaneous survey of one third University of Newcastle of principals in general practice in Scotland.' Data practice policy for controlling infection. upon Tyne, Newcastle Conclusions-Many doctors are uncertain about were analysed with the statistical package for social upon Tyne NE2 4AA Chris Foy, MSC, lecturer in measures to control infection in general practice. sciences (SPSSX). The yX test was used to compare medical statistics More information and advice are needed to help responses between groups of practitioners. Morris Gallagher, MRCGP, doctors develop policies to protect patients and Royal College of General staff. Practitioners research fellow Results Tim Rhodes, BA, research Questionnaires were returned by 3429 (63 9%) associate There was no evidence that non-respondents doctors. Introduction Jo Setters, BA, research The epidemic of HIV has drawn attention to the differed from respondents in a survey of a small associate nature and adequacy of existing procedures to prevent number of non-respondents. Peter Philips, PHD, senior Table I shows the doctors' responses to four statelecturer in medical data the spread of infection in general practice. In 1987 a processing report from the social services committee on HIV ments about HIV. Doctors were most uncertain about Cam Donaldson, MSC, infection recommended that "all health care profes- the risk of infection from a needlestick injury. The lecturer in health economics sionals should adopt and practise appropriate and greatest changes caused by growing awareness of HIV John Bond, BA, senior lecturer consistent procedures for infection control in health were that the doctors wore gloves for taking blood and In sociology care practice as soon as possible,"' but it is not known did not resheath needles (table II). Doctors who had to what extent general practitioners have responded to been consulted by someone positive for HIV in the Health Services Research previous month were more likely than others to wear these and other such recommendations. Unit, University of We studied procedures to control infection in general latex rather than polypropylene gloves (42-9% (135/ Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB9 2ZD practice and identified changes that doctors have made 315) compared with 32-8% (1004/3062), p
HIV and
measures
to control
infection in general practice
Chris Foy, Morris Gallagher, Tim Rhodes, Jo Setters, Peter Philips, Cam Donaldson, John Bond, Michele Moore, Simon Naji by family practitioner committee area and number of Objective-To assess the impact of HIV on principals in the practice. Each doctor was asked to procedures to control infection in general practices. complete a four page questionnaire that examined the effect of HIV on clinical procedures and measures to Design-A postal questionnaire survey. control cross infection in general practice and the Setting-General practices throughout Britain. Subjects-5359 General practitioners, 3429 doctor's knowledge of the infectivity and virology of HIV. We have already reported the doctors' response (63.9%) of whom returned the questionnaire. Main outcome measure-Response to question- to questions about their contact with people at risk of naire on knowledge about HIV and policies for HIV infection or who had HIV infection or AIDS and their beliefs and intentions about several issues related controlling infection. to HIV and AIDS, such as health education, clinical to wear started doctors (2018) had Results-Most gloves when taking blood. Almost half (1510) had not care, and confidentiality.2 Two postal reminders were resheathed needles previously but a further 776 had sent to non-responders. The questionnaire was adopted this policy because of HIV. Over half of the developed in collaboration with the Health Services Health Care Research doctors did not know or were unsure about the risk of Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, which underUnit, infection from needlestick injuries, and 1759 had no took an identical and simultaneous survey of one third University of Newcastle of principals in general practice in Scotland.' Data practice policy for controlling infection. upon Tyne, Newcastle Conclusions-Many doctors are uncertain about were analysed with the statistical package for social upon Tyne NE2 4AA Chris Foy, MSC, lecturer in measures to control infection in general practice. sciences (SPSSX). The yX test was used to compare medical statistics More information and advice are needed to help responses between groups of practitioners. Morris Gallagher, MRCGP, doctors develop policies to protect patients and Royal College of General staff. Practitioners research fellow Results Tim Rhodes, BA, research Questionnaires were returned by 3429 (63 9%) associate There was no evidence that non-respondents doctors. Introduction Jo Setters, BA, research The epidemic of HIV has drawn attention to the differed from respondents in a survey of a small associate nature and adequacy of existing procedures to prevent number of non-respondents. Peter Philips, PHD, senior Table I shows the doctors' responses to four statelecturer in medical data the spread of infection in general practice. In 1987 a processing report from the social services committee on HIV ments about HIV. Doctors were most uncertain about Cam Donaldson, MSC, infection recommended that "all health care profes- the risk of infection from a needlestick injury. The lecturer in health economics sionals should adopt and practise appropriate and greatest changes caused by growing awareness of HIV John Bond, BA, senior lecturer consistent procedures for infection control in health were that the doctors wore gloves for taking blood and In sociology care practice as soon as possible,"' but it is not known did not resheath needles (table II). Doctors who had to what extent general practitioners have responded to been consulted by someone positive for HIV in the Health Services Research previous month were more likely than others to wear these and other such recommendations. Unit, University of We studied procedures to control infection in general latex rather than polypropylene gloves (42-9% (135/ Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB9 2ZD practice and identified changes that doctors have made 315) compared with 32-8% (1004/3062), p
