Search

Epidemiological trends in HIV infection in the United States suggest existing primary and secondary prevention efforts are inadequate. Healthcare providers may be missing valuable opportunities to engage in necessary public health services, such as prevention education, risk assessment, and case finding. This study examined the HIV-related practice behaviors and training needs of physicians and nurses in the Midwest. A cross-sectional survey method was employed. A questionnaire was mailed to a probability sample of 1,500 physicians and registered nurses licensed as of August 1999 in one of six Midwestern states. A total of 534 physicians and nurses replied to the survey, and over half had received prior HIV-related continuing medical education and training. One third of nurses and 26.8 percent of physicians reported that they did not engage in any HIV-related public health role in their practice. Physicians with prior HIV continuing medical education and training were 3.1 times more likely to report HIV-related public health services in their practice than providers without prior training (p = .004). Nurses with prior experience serving HIV-infected patients were 2.0 times more likely to identify a public health role (p = .012). These findings reflect the need for greater awareness among medical providers of the importance of assuming a public health role with the HIV epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social work profession remains an untapped resource within the community for addressing HIV/AIDS prevention and early detection. This study investigated social workers' knowledge and practices relating to HIV prevention education, risk assessment, and case finding. A six page questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 600 licensed social workers and licensed clinical social workers in Illinois. The sample was drawn from a list provided by the state department of professional regulation, stratified by geographic location. The final response rate for the survey was 51.3% (N = 308). Social work knowledge concerning HIV and AIDS was significantly related to the variables of age, geographic location, and practice setting. Respondents scored lower on knowledge items pertaining to their ability to perform a comprehensive sexual and drug risk assessment and to appropriately advise clients on HIV antibody testing. Most of the social workers in the sample provided minimal to no HIV-related services in their clinical practice. HIV-related behaviors were also significantly related to the variables of age, geographic location, and practice setting. Multiple logistic regression was used to test whether prior HIV/AIDS training predicted the presence of HIV-related practice behaviors, controlling for potential confounding factors. Both prior HIV-related training and education and prior work experience with HIV-infected clients were statistically significant and independent predictors of current HIV-related practice behaviors reported by social workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]