SANE Knowledge of HIV nPEP: Identifying Deficits

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Nursing Practice
• Public Health

Background:

• Care for sexual assault victims requires understanding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) exposure risks and nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis (nPEP).
• Existing literature focuses on risk, adherence, access, and practices, but lacks data on sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) knowledge of HIV and nPEP guidelines.
• A significant gap exists in assessing SANE knowledge regarding HIV infection and evidence-based nPEP practices for sexual assault survivors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the knowledge of sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) concerning HIV infection.
• To evaluate SANE understanding of evidence-based practice recommendations for HIV nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis (nPEP) in sexual assault cases.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, descriptive, and comparative study was conducted.
• A 20-item knowledge survey on HIV transmission, pathophysiology, nPEP medications, and guidelines was administered to 411 participants.
• The survey included 15 demographic questions to contextualize the knowledge assessment.

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated knowledge deficits in HIV transmission risks, nPEP indications, laboratory testing, and drug regimens.
• Understanding of nPEP timing, mechanism of action, contraindications, and adherence issues was also found to be lacking.
• The overall mean score on the 20-item knowledge survey was 66.8% (13.36 out of 20).

Conclusions:

• A notable knowledge deficit exists among SANEs regarding HIV infection and evidence-based nPEP guidelines for sexual assault patients.
• The findings underscore the necessity for enhanced educational initiatives for specialized nurses providing care to sexual assault survivors.
• Improved SANE knowledge is crucial for effective HIV prevention strategies in the context of sexual assault.