Suzanne de Munnik1,2, Sigrid C J M Vervoort3, Heidi S M Ammerlaan1, Gerjo Kok4, Chantal den Daas2,5. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. 2. National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. 3. University Medical Center Utrecht, Cancer Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 4. Department of Applied Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. 5. Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Abstract
AIMS: We aimed to elucidate facilitators and barriers that HIV nurses experience in discussing sexual risk behaviour with HIV-positive men who have sex with men, using variables from a previous qualitative study and the theory of planned behaviour. BACKGROUND: HIV-positive men who have sex with men are frequently diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections, which can be reduced if HIV nurses discuss sexual risk behaviour. DESIGN: An online questionnaire was disseminated in April 2015 among all HIV nurses in the Netherlands. METHODS: We assessed variables, such as attitudes, shame, ability, knowledge and time concerns. A regression analysis was conducted with "intention to discuss sexual risk behaviour" as an outcome variable. RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 60 of 79 HIV nurses. Overall, participants reported high intentions to discuss sexual risk behaviour, and 38% of the variance was explained by attitude, sexual preference, knowing ways to introduce the topic and experiencing enough time or viewing it as a priority. In addition, high intenders significantly differed from low intenders in "experienced shame," "relation with patients," "non-verbal communication," "subjective norm" and "knowledge." CONCLUSION: Improving sexual health in HIV care translates into improving opportunities and the facilitating factors in initiating the discussion of sexual risk behaviour rather than removing barriers HIV nurses experience. Interventions should mainly focus on improving the HIV nurses' perceived ability to initiate the topic of sexual risk behaviour and to utilize the jargon and terminology that is commonly used among men who have sex with men.
AIMS: We aimed to elucidate facilitators and barriers that HIV nurses experience in discussing sexual risk behaviour with HIV-positive men who have sex with men, using variables from a previous qualitative study and the theory of planned behaviour. BACKGROUND: HIV-positive men who have sex with men are frequently diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections, which can be reduced if HIV nurses discuss sexual risk behaviour. DESIGN: An online questionnaire was disseminated in April 2015 among all HIV nurses in the Netherlands. METHODS: We assessed variables, such as attitudes, shame, ability, knowledge and time concerns. A regression analysis was conducted with "intention to discuss sexual risk behaviour" as an outcome variable. RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 60 of 79 HIV nurses. Overall, participants reported high intentions to discuss sexual risk behaviour, and 38% of the variance was explained by attitude, sexual preference, knowing ways to introduce the topic and experiencing enough time or viewing it as a priority. In addition, high intenders significantly differed from low intenders in "experienced shame," "relation with patients," "non-verbal communication," "subjective norm" and "knowledge." CONCLUSION: Improving sexual health in HIV care translates into improving opportunities and the facilitating factors in initiating the discussion of sexual risk behaviour rather than removing barriers HIV nurses experience. Interventions should mainly focus on improving the HIV nurses' perceived ability to initiate the topic of sexual risk behaviour and to utilize the jargon and terminology that is commonly used among men who have sex with men.
Keywords:
HIV/AIDS; consultation; counselling; healthcare providers; men who have sex with men; nurse practitioners; nurses; patient-provider interaction; sexual risk behaviour; sexually transmitted infections
Authors: J Craig Phillips; Jufri Hidayat; Kristen D Clark; Julia Melisek; Monique S Balthazar; Albert G D Beck; Scott E Moore; Carol Dawson-Rose Journal: J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care Date: 2021 May-Jun 01 Impact factor: 1.809