HIV/AIDS in primary care: the opinions and needs of Galician health professionals

To find the views and identify the needs of Galician primary health care (PHC) professionals concerning HIV/AIDS. An observational cross-sectional study. Autonomous Community of Galicia. Primary care professionals from medicine (N = 1,523, n = 510), nursing (N = n = 220) and paediatrics (N = n = 249). A postal questionnaire was used to gather data. Four mailings were sent. The percentage of replies was 64.6%. Less than 30% of the professionals were involved in specific activities with at-risk groups. Less than half were involved in recruitment and early diagnosis of persons with at-risk practices and their contacts. About 50% thought that the initiative was currently being left up to each individual professional, which only a third believed was desirable. Galician PHC professionals are in favour of a greater involvement of their health care level in questions of HIV/AIDS. They call explicitly for greater efforts from the health authorities to provide training, means and coordination.