Concerns and Recommendations of Internal Medicine Residents in HIV Patient Care in the Second Decade of the AIDS Epidemic in Taiwan

Abstract

Internal medicine residents are usually on the front line of caring for HIV-infected patients. In the second decade of the AIDS epidemic in Taiwan, a qualitative study was conducted to recognize the concerns of internal medicine residents in caring for HIV/AIDS patients and to identify possible strategies to promote HIV patient care that have not been addressed in previous research. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 47 internal medicine residents at a university hospital in Taiwan. Seven factors (stereotypes of AIDS; fear of transmission; concerns of families, friends, and colleagues; lack of clinical expertise; lack of collegial support; lack of a sense of accomplishment; and lack of worker's compensation if infected) were found to be the chief concerns of participants in providing HIV/AIDS care. Four strategies (education, clinical experience, safe working environment, and employee benefits) were voiced as those that could promote health care professionals' well-being and willingness to provide HIV/AIDS care. The results of this study are explained in light of the historical, social, and medical contexts in Taiwan.