CHANGES IN KNOWLEDGE AND REPORTED ACTIONS OF SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS AFTER SMALL-GROUP EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS ABOUT HIV AIDS/

The aim for this research was to undertake small group educational ses sions about HIV/AIDS facilitated by trained general practitioners (GPs ), and to measure their impact six months later. All general practitio ners in metropolitan Adelaide South Australia were invited to attend o ne of a number of small group educational sessions about HIV/AIDS. Eac h session was led by a general practitioner. The knowledge and reporte d actions of participants were assessed by means of questionnaire befo re and six months after the session. The results revealed that 223 out of 1173 (19%) GPs who were contacted attended a session, and of these 166 completed both questionnaires. A statistically significant increa se in some knowledge items was found after the sessions, with GPs bein g more aware that breast feeding is a definite mode of transmission of HIV and recapping needles does not reduce the risk of transmission of HN. GPs also reported more confidence in managing issues around HIV a nd that they were undertaking more of the management of testing issues themselves. These results show that sustained improvement can occur a fter small group educational sessions. However, there is no room for c omplacency and innovative methods of practitioner education should be developed.