Willingness to Care for Patients With HIV/AIDS

The determinants of willingness to care for people living with HIV-AIDS: A cross-sectional study in Indonesia

Acceptance and willingness to care for people living with HIV-AIDS (PLHA) in society is still a concern. The purpose of this study is to analyse the determinants of willingness to care for PLHA in Indonesia. A cross-sectional study was conducted to process the secondary data from the Indonesian Demographic Health Survey (IDHS) conducted in 2017. A total sample of 13,731 individuals was obtained by a two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique. The variables used were socioeconomic characteristics (age, sex, education, wealth quintile, residence, employment status and earnings), knowledge about HIV-AIDS, information about HIV-AIDS and willingness to care for PLHA. Binary logistic regressions were used to analyse the data. According to the data from IDHS 2017, 71.84% of total respondents in Indonesia are willing to care for PLHA. Female respondents, individuals in all wealth quintiles and those who have more information are more likely to care for PLHA. Respondents aged 35-49 years old and currently working are less likely to care for PLHA. However, level of education, level of knowledge, residence and earnings are not related willingness to care for PLHA. The dissemination of correct and accurate information about HIV-AIDS can help the community and society understand this condition. Thus, community members can accept PLHA and become more willing to provide care. The government can determine further policies for the appropriate dissemination of information, maximally and in accordance with recommendations. Collaborations among the government, health workers and the community are needed.

Tools to measure HIV knowledge, attitudes & practices (KAPs) in healthcare providers: a systematic review

Healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) related to HIV are important determinants of quality of care provided to HIV/AIDS patients. Most studies have focussed on low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) with far fewer conducted within high-income countries, where the epidemiology of HIV is typically distinct from low- and middle-income countries. As part of a larger study, we wanted to measure HIV-KAPs in healthcare providers in Australia. A systematic search was conducted to identify and evaluate existing tools designed to measure HIV-related KAPs among healthcare providers in higher-income countries. In total, eight instruments were identified. The instruments drew upon adapted forms of existing HIV-related KAPs and stigma theories and were developed based on a range of methodological designs and for different cadre of healthcare workers. The extent to which psychometric properties for each tool were evaluated varied widely. Further research with more robust methodological and psychometric rigour is required for adequate measurement of KAP among health professionals specific to HIV, so associated training needs, patient experiences and health outcomes can potentially be enhanced.

Health Care Student Knowledge and Willingness to Work in Infectious Disease Outbreaks

OBJECTIVE

Health care workers are critical first responders. Understanding which factors motivate their willingness to work (WTW) during infectious disease outbreaks may guide improvements in preparedness. The perspective of health care students, the future workforce, remains largely unexplored. This study compared factors influencing WTW among medical, nursing, and pharmacy students.

METHODS

A printed survey was administered to 631 medical, nursing, and pharmacy students. The questionnaire elicited information regarding prior disaster training, disease-related knowledge, and WTW in the setting of infectious diseases with contact or respiratory transmission.

RESULTS

Analyses of the 579 respondents (92% response rate) demonstrated that students were less fearful for their health and more willing to work during outbreaks with contact transmission than during those with respiratory transmission. Medical students were the most fearful for their health, but they demonstrated the greatest WTW, followed by nursing students, and then pharmacy students. Medical students were also the most knowledgeable about infectious diseases. Prior disaster training was associated with greater WTW.

CONCLUSIONS

Extent of disease-related knowledge and prior disaster training appear to influence WTW. Our findings, taken in the context of a remarkable underemphasis on disaster preparedness in health care curricula, call for a broader incorporation of disaster training to improve the WTW of health care students, and, ultimately, health care workers. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:694-700).

Nursing Students' Willingness to Care for Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients in the Future

Recent studies in various countries have shown controversy regarding students' willingness to care for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients as well as factors associated with students' decisions about this issue. This survey, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, explored factors associated with Israeli nursing students' willingness to care for HIV-infected patients in the future. The results suggest that appropriate education and experience in caring for HIV-infected patients are critical for improving students' willingness to care for these patients.

Factors predicting clinical nurses' willingness to care for Ebola virus disease-infected patients: A cross-sectional, descriptive survey

The purpose of this study was to identify factors predicting clinical nurses' willingness to care for Ebola virus disease (EVD)-infected patients. Data were collected from 179 nurses employed at 10 hospitals in Korea using self-reporting questionnaires. Only 26.8% of the participants were willing to care for EVD-infected patients. Factors predicting their willingness to provide care were their belief in public service, risk perception, and age. Nurses' willingness to provide care was high when their belief in public service was high, low when their risk perception was high, and low as their age increased. In order to strengthen nurses' willingness to care for EVD-infected patients, education that targets the enhancement of belief in public service should be included in nurse training. Efforts should be directed toward lowering EVD risk perception and developing systematic responses through government-led organized support.

Staff experiences of caring for patients with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing bacteria: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Patients who become carriers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria are sometimes stigmatized by health professionals. Staff members' fears of becoming infected could affect their willingness to care for these patients.

METHODS

The purpose of this study was to increase the knowledge of what it means for staff in acute care settings and nursing homes to care for patients with extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria. Assistant nurses, registered nurses, and physicians from acute care settings and nursing homes were interviewed. A modified version of Grounded Theory was used for the analysis.

RESULTS

The analysis resulted in the core category "to operate as an expert in a chaotic environment" in acute care settings. Despite a lack of resources, hospital staff try to provide the best possible care for patients with ESBL. The analysis of the interviews in the nursing homes resulted in the core category "the employee who, despite uncertainty, provides good care." Despite some fear, and a lack of knowledge, the study participants tried to provide the residents with good care.

CONCLUSION

Staff in acute care settings and nursing homes must have adequate knowledge and reasonable working conditions to be able to provide high-quality care for patients and residents who are ESBL carriers.

Nurses' willingness to take care of people living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS)--does a teaching intervention make a difference?

The aim of this study is to describe the impact of an education intervention programme on nurses' willingness to care for HIV-positive people in Lithuania.

METHODS

The study utilizes a randomized controlled trial design (RCT). The total sample comprises 185 nurses working in medical, surgical and gynaecological units, and primary health care centres from the same hospital areas in three Lithuanian hospitals. The data were analyzed using SPSS 12.0 and descriptive statistics.

FINDINGS

Our educational intervention did not have an impact on the nurses' willingness to take care of people living with HIV (PLHIV), as their level of willingness was high already before the education intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research on this issue is needed to try to understand the forces acting on our nursing staff in order to ensure appropriate care for PLHIV.