Adolescents and HIV: theory-based approaches to education of nurses

HIV infection is increasingly prevalent in adolescents, and primary prevent ion programmes have been most effective when based on existing theories, in cluding social cognitive theory (SCT). Nurses play an important role in ass essing adolescents' risk for HIV infection and in recommending preventive b ehaviour change, if their comfort with these activities is increased. Pract ising nurses (n = 88, mean age = 408) from a university medical centre and surrounding hospitals participated in either a didactic or SCT-based worksh op and a vignette-based assessment. Utilizing a randomized controlled desig n, this study compared the effectiveness of the two types of workshops by m easuring HIV-related knowledge and attitudes, as well as comfort with and i ntent to perform HIV-related risk assessments. Differences in comfort and i ntent based on target patients' cultural descriptors were also evaluated. T he SCT-based workshops yielded more positive results for all four outcome v ariables at the 8-week follow-up (F-2,F-71 = 4.27, P < 002). Cultural stere otyping also appeared to play a role in nurses' intent to perform assessmen ts (F-2,F-74 = 11.81, P < 0.001). Suggestions for improving the workshops a nd incorporating other theory-based approaches are discussed.