Attitudes of intern doctors towards people living with HIV: a cross-sectional study in Türkiye

Abstract Background People living with HIV (PLWH) may experience exclusion from various groups such as family members, employers, and health professionals. These negative attitudes can lead to depression, anxiety, and delay in treatment in PLWH. We aimed to determine attitudes towards PLWH and related factors among intern doctors. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in July-August 2023 at a faculty of medicine. The study group consisted of 201 intern doctors. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire including sociodemographic and related variables, the AIDS Attitude Scale (AAS) and the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with attitudes towards PLWH. Results The mean age was 23.4±1.0 years, and 55.2% were male. The mean AAS score was 53.6±4.9, indicating a moderate attitude toward PLWH. Two-thirds of the students reported that the information given about HIV during their medical education was inadequate. Furthermore, the majority of participants (72.6%) reported informing other healthcare professionals about the patient's HIV status without their consent. Multivariate analysis revealed that more positive attitudes were significantly associated with higher income (β = 0.15; p = 0.020), not thinking that additional precautions were needed in the care of PLWH (β = 0.20; p = 0.007) and not warning other staff against the patient's wishes (β = 0.15; p = 0.031). Higher empathy levels were positively associated with better attitudes (β = 0.19; p = 0.004). Conclusions Overall, the study indicates that a combination of socio-economic background, ethical awareness, and empathy influences intern doctors’ attitudes toward PLWH. These findings highlight the need for targeted training in medical ethics and empathy to reduce stigma by addressing HIV-related misconceptions and promoting a patient-centred approach. Key messages • Integrating training on confidentiality, anti-discrimination, and accurate HIV knowledge into medical education may reduce stigma, enhance ethical sensitivity, and support respectful care for PLWH. • Raising awareness about the unnecessary nature of additional precautions for PLWH can help correct misconceptions and foster more equitable, empathy-driven healthcare practices.