Are we running out of GPs?

The number and age of people with HIV is increasing and so are the demands on the HIV GP. Many who have been working in the area for some time are nearing retirement and while there is a pool of younger ones training in the area it might not be big enough to fill the growing gaps. Some regional areas are finding it particularly hard to attract doctors with HIV experience.

There is no available literature on the motivations of GPs who work in HIV medicine, but the small amount of US research on health care workers suggest they are motivated by feeling good about providing care and support to ‘stigmatised people’ and are also more likely to be personally affected themselves.

It’s time we found out what makes a good HIV GP tick.

The National Centre in HIV Social Research (NCHSR [1]National Centre in HIV Social Research. Located at the University of NSW in Sydney, NCHSR conducts research which describes and analyses the social understandings, meanings and practices of peoples, institutions and communities in relation to HIV, Hepatitis C and other communicable diseases.) at the University of NSW has started leading a three-year study to provide critical and timely evidence for why and how GPs pursue or continue careers in HIV in different caseload and geographical settings across Australia.

NAPWA is involved in the study and it is hoped that the findings will provide new knowledge on the role of GPs in maintaining and enhancing the health of PLHIV [2]Person (or people) Living with HIV. This term is now preferred over the older PLWHA. in Australia.