HIV/AIDS education for nurses in Poland

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Nursing
• Medical Education

Background:

• Healthcare professionals require specialized training to address complex health issues like HIV/AIDS.
• Nurses in Poland identified specific concerns regarding HIV/AIDS education, including infection risks and social stigma.
• Effective training is crucial for improving healthcare delivery in infectious disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of an expert-led HIV/AIDS training course for nurses in Gdansk, Poland.
• To identify and address specific professional concerns among Polish nurses related to HIV/AIDS care.
• To evaluate changes in nurses' comfort levels and self-confidence in handling sensitive topics.

Main Methods:

• An HIV/AIDS training course was developed and delivered by a joint American-Polish healthcare team.
• Pre-course and post-course evaluations were administered to assess knowledge, comfort, and confidence.
• The training curriculum focused on addressing identified concerns such as fear of infection and stigma.

Main Results:

• The training course successfully identified significant concerns among Polish nurses, including fear of infection, discomfort with male sexuality, and lack of information on drug users.
• Post-course evaluations revealed significant improvements in nurses' comfort levels when discussing sensitive HIV/AIDS-related topics.
• Nurses reported enhanced instructional self-confidence following the training program.

Conclusions:

• Targeted HIV/AIDS training can effectively address specific professional concerns of nurses.
• Educational interventions can significantly improve healthcare providers' comfort and confidence in managing sensitive health issues.
• Enhanced training is vital for improving the quality of care and reducing stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.