OBJECTIVES: Even with the advent of new pharmacotherapies (e.g., HAART) that minimize inpatient care, HIV/AIDS patients are sometimes hospitalized for acute problems. Patients' responses to specific aspects of hospitalization determine their satisfaction and have implications for hospitals' quality improvement efforts. The objective of this study was to examine ratings of hospitalization experiences of HIV/AIDS inpatients and compare them with ratings of other, non HIV/AIDS inpatients. METHODS: A set of surveys from 78 patients discharged from 32 US hospitals in 2001 was assembled. Surveys contained 49 items pertaining to aspects of hospitalization as well as several patient demographic items. Surveys had been pre-coded to include diagnostic information (Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG)) and were mailed to patients within a week of their hospital discharge, with a return rate of approximately 25%. Surveys from patients whose DRG indicated HIV/AIDS were selected for further analysis. Groups of patients who were treated at the same hospitals as the HIV/AIDS sample, but whose diagnoses were not related to HIV/AIDS, served as comparisons. RESULTS: HIV/AIDS patients' ratings differed in several respects from those of other patients. Nursing care, staff concern, and handling of tests/treatments were rated significantly (p<.05) worse than those of comparison patients. But ratings of admission procedures, room amenities, and physician care did not differ from those of non-HIV/AIDS patients, eliminating general response bias as an explanation for the findings. An index pertaining to how hospitals might improve quality of care for HIV/AIDS patients showed that they would gain the most from attending to HIV/AIDS' patients spiritual and emotional needs; helping them to arrange home care after discharge, and giving better explanations about tests and treatments. CONCLUSIONS: HIV/AIDS patients' reported experiences with hospitalization were worse than those of hospitalized non-HIV/AIDS patients. Hospital personnel can use specific findings to improve treatment experiences of such patients.