A randomized trial of group interventions for hospital staff caring for persons with AIDS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop an educational package for health care providers. Findings from a survey conducted by investigators were used to direct intervention content. All subjects received a 1 hour educational package. Since this type of intervention was not expected to be sufficient to modify attitudes and concerns, 75% of the subjects received an additional 1 hour group discussion intervention (n = 118). In a subgroup of those receiving group interventions, the discussion was preceded by the presence of a person with AIDS (PWA) (in person or on video) discussing his personal experience with the illness and health care workers. It was demonstrated that in order to modify change attitudes, concerns, and affective response, groups were necessary. Furthermore, fear of risk of contagion and homophobia required the presence of a PWA (in person or on video) in order for change to occur.

The attitudes, concerns, gloving practices and knowledge of nurses in a Taiwanese hospital regarding AIDS and HIV

“…In the first study, 11 a mixture of experientially based instruction including role play, audiovisual teaching and guest speakers was effective, produced the greatest attitudinal change, and the majority of the students preferred this mixture of education. In the other study, 12 a mixture of videos, group discussions and hospital experience dealing with AIDS patients showed the greatest decrease in homophobia and contagion fear. This decrease was maintained at three‐month follow‐up.…”

“…Also, a variety of teaching methods might have to be employed. In two such studies, use of multiple method presentations had the greatest effect on changing health professionals’ attitudes towards AIDS and HIV‐positive patients 11,12 . In the first study, 11 a mixture of experientially based instruction including role play, audiovisual teaching and guest speakers was effective, produced the greatest attitudinal change, and the majority of the students preferred this mixture of education.…”

Measuring the stress associated with caring for clients with HIV/AIDS

“…It is now well established that relatively simple and cost-effective interventions can increase levels of knowledge about HIV and AIDS (e.g. Flaskerud et al, 1989;Gallop et al, 1992a;Swanson et al, 1990;Williams, 1995): the findings of the current study suggest that it would be beneficial to offer such interventions to a wider range of occupational groups than has been the case in the past.…”

“…An analysis of the attitude scores of the sample indicated that, overall, those with more positive attitudes were more likely to have received in-service training relating to HIV/AIDS (Knussen & Niven, 1999): however, while existing forms of in-service education, such as courses aimed at improving knowledge, can serve to enhance attitudes towards people with HIV/ AIDS, the findings reported here point to the utility of more focused interventions. The literature in this area suggests that small group discussions, and interventions fostering the development of personal relationships between staff and people with HIV/AIDS and their families, can influence attitudes towards and comfort with clients with HIV/AIDS (Gallop et al, 1992a;Hartnett, 1987;Irvine et al, 1993;McHaffie, 1994;Williams, 1995;Young, 1988).…”

“…Given that attitudes and knowledge can be positively influenced by intervention (e.g. Gallop et al, 1992a), an economical method of measuring variation in the perception of stress could prove extremely useful. The main aim of the current study was to consider the extent to which a measure of potential sources of stress associated with working with clients with HIV/AIDS (the AIDS-stress scale; Pleck et al, 1988) was useful as a means of identifying health care workers who might benefit from intervention.…”