Proficiency of internal medicine residents in outpatient care of patients with HIV infection

To determine internal medicine residents’ knowledge of HIV care, the authors conducted a survey of residents from four internal medicine programs in the San Francisco Bay area. On a knowledge test, the mean score was 42.4/55, 77% correct. The residents performed relatively worse on questions regarding didanosine and zalcitabine, tuberculosis prophylaxis, and risk of cervical neoplasia in HIV-infected women. Predictors of greater knowledge were specific residency program, higher postgraduate year, primary care residency track, and more extensive HIV experience. Primary care internal medicine residencies and programs with more exposure to HIV patients are most effective in producing knowledgeable residents. Supported by the AIDS Clinical Research Center, University of California San Francisco, VA Medical Center (141A), 4150 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94121; and National Institute of Mental Health Grant: MH44045 (Dr. Cooke). Dr. Bindman is a Robert Wood Johnson Generalist Physician Faculty Scholar. This research was conducted, in part, while Dr. Schultz was a fellow in general internal medicine and clinical epidemiology in the Division of General Internal Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California.