A National Survey of Provider’s Preparedness to Care for Persons Living With HIV Aged ≥50 Years

Introduction: With increasing longevity among persons living with HIV (PLWH), HIV providers must manage age-related diseases despite limited geriatric training. We surveyed HIV providers to assess perceived preparedness in caring for aging PLWH and knowledge gaps. Methods: We surveyed HIV providers from October to December 2018 on preparedness (1 = strongly unprepared to 5 = strongly prepared), topics of interest, and participant characteristics including the number of years after training, number of PLWH aged $50 years seen/month, degree types (MD/DO versus others), and practice setting (academic versus nonacademic). We grouped “strongly prepared/somewhat prepared” responses as “prepared” and “neutral/somewhat unprepared/strongly unprepared” as “unprepared.” The effects of participant characteristics on preparedness were determined using chi-square test. Results: Of 226 participants, 54% were physicians, 27% were NP/PA, 19% were PharmD, and 40% practiced in academic settings. The average preparedness score was 3.37 out of 5.0. Approximately half of participants (56%) were classified as “prepared.” The mode number of years in practice was “10 to <20” (22%); mode number of PLWH aged $50 years seen/month was “1 to 25” (50%). HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (73%) and geriatric syndrome screening (63%) were the most chosen areas of interest. Unprepared participants were interested in topics of cardiovascular disease (odds ratio [OR], 2.38; P = .002) and palliative care (OR, 1.92; P = .02). Having >20 years after training increased preparedness (“20 to <30” years versus “none”: OR, 3.37; P = .03; “$30 years” versus “none”: OR, 3.66; P = .04). Conclusion: Approximately half of the surveyed HIV providers felt prepared to care for aging PLWH. HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder, geriatric syndrome screening, cardiovascular diseases, and palliative care were areas of interest. Having >20 years after training increases preparedness.