News Release

Patients and their doctors have different perceptions about HIV and its treatment

Research reported in SAGE Publications' Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care

Peer-Reviewed Publication

SAGE

According to results of a nation-wide study published in the latest issue of SAGE Publications' Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC), HIV positive patients and their doctors have very different views about the disease and how it's treated.

The study uncovered differences of opinion between patients and physicians about the initiation of treatment, the various goals of treatment, and even about whether or not the patient understands the doctors' explanations. These and other gaps in perception were revealed in the JIAPAC peer-reviewed article, "State of HIV Treatment: Results of IAPAC Surveys of HIV-Positive Patients and HIV-Treating Physicians in the United States."

The article explores the research findings about the attitudes of more than 500 HIV-positive patients and HIV-treating physicians regarding satisfaction with current treatment options, treatment side effects, patient-physician relationships, the importance of looking healthy, and other aspects related to HIV treatment.

"While the surveys highlighted many similar views between physicians and patients on issues such as treatment goals and satisfaction with currently available antiretroviral drugs," said José M. Zuniga, IAPAC President/CEO and the author of the JIAPAC article, "it is clear that more candid dialogue is needed to ensure a satisfactory treatment experience for people living with HIV/AIDS."

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The IAPAC State of HIV Treatment Surveys was conducted in partnership with, and through funding provided by, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and administered by Richard Day Research.

A copy of the article can be accessed free of charge at http://jia.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/5/2/51 for a limited time.

About SAGE:
SAGE Publications is a leading international publisher of journals, books, and electronic media for academic, educational, and professional markets. Since 1965, SAGE has helped inform and educate a global community of scholars, practitioners, researchers, and students spanning a wide range of subject areas including business, humanities, social sciences, and science, technology and medicine. SAGE Publications, a privately owned corporation, has principal offices in Thousand Oaks, California, London, United Kingdom, and New Delhi, India. www.sagepublications.com

About the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC):
IAPAC aims to craft and implement global educational and advocacy strategies to improve the quality of care provided to all people living with HIV/AIDS. For more information about IAPAC, please visit www.iapac.org.

About Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC):
Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC), a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal, presents original research, research reviews, case studies, and clinical perspectives on the treatment of AIDS around the globe. A primary information resource for both developed and developing regions, JIAPAC explores the following topics and more in a variety of care settings: pathology, co-infections, clinical pharmacotherapeutics, diagnostic testing, epidemiology, health services, and cultural and behavioral influences on AIDS and its treatment. http://jiapac.sagepub.com


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