HealthCare provider characteristics and perceived confidence from HIV/AIDSeducation

This study reports findings from six training projects designed to keep hea lth providers up-to-date on emerging developments and approaches in HIV/AID S care. Participants were 3779 individuals who described themselves, their professional background, and their specific experience in the HIV/AIDS fiel d. These characteristics were compared with their self-reported confidence in managing clients, counseling clients, providing services, and the traini ng topics. A repeated-measures design examining level and change of confide nce showed little support for links between provider characteristics and co nfidence due to HIV/AIDS training experience. Thus, knowing a provider's ba ckground does not necessarily provide diagnostic information about who migh t most benefit in improved confidence from HIV/AIDS educational training. T hese results suggest that HIV/AIDS training programs may be targeted broadl y-to a wide range of healthcare providers of diverse backgrounds-with littl e or no impact on overall levels and changes in provider confidence.