[A needs assessment of nursing staff AIDS care knowledge needs]

The number of HIV infections in Taiwan has been increasingly linear in recent years. At the close of April 2009, Taiwan registered 17, 979 AIDS infections. The average annual infection rate has grown an average 18% during the most recent five year period. Apart from medical problems, the social and psychological problems associated with AIDS are becoming increasingly complicated both in Taiwan and globally with the increasing number of HIV infections. Identifying the knowledge needs of nursing staff members for providing appropriate nursing care to HIV/AIDS patients is important to planning effective in-service nursing education programs. Quality of both patient care and professional development can be promoted.

This study investigated the HIV/AIDS educational needs of nursing staffs and variations in care knowledge needs by individual background. Results provide a reference for in-service education program planners.

This was a descriptive and correlational study design that used self-structured questionnaires to conduct a cross-sectional survey. A total of 556 structural questionnaires were distributed and 546 completed questionnaires were returned (response rate = 98.2%) and used in data analysis.

The average knowledge need score for nursing staffs with regard to HIV/AIDS patient care was > 4 points. The highest three mean scores were (in rank order): follow-up treatment for victims after sexual assault, prevention of injury (e.g., sharp objects, exposure to infected body fluids) and subsequent management, and nursing care of opportunistic infection. The lowest three mean scores were (in rank order): HIV epidemiology, Taiwan HIV policies and regulations, and HIV transmission routes. Nurses who were older, married, or held senior nurse positions had more knowledge needs.

This study can be a reference for prioritizing the arrangement of in-service HIV/AIDS care education and for formulating hospital policies related to HIV/AIDS patients. Prevention of injury and subsequent management of patients with opportunistic infections should be made mandatory in all health care provider courses. Also, enhancing promotion of safety needles can help reduce needle stick risks for clinical staff.