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.