Presentation Abstract

Rural HIV/AIDS Prevention, Early Intervention and Health Promotion: A Self-Study Training Model For Rural Primary Care Providers. S J Martin, D Anderson, C Vojir. University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver.

Issue: In rural communities, with low prevalence of HIV and AIDS, rural health care providers are in a unique position to positively impact the epidemic through targeted HIV/AIDS prevention, early intervention and health promotion activities. Rural providers need accessible primary care education and training to improve HIV service delivery in rural communities with at-risk and HIV-infected individuals.

Project: The Self-Study Module for Rural Health Care Providers was developed and implemented as one component of a comparative educational methodology project, funded as a Special Project of National Significance (SPNS), to improve rural HIV/AIDS services for at-risk and HIV-infected individuals in rural areas. The self-instruction tool utilizes a case study scenario and addresses identified needs of rural providers and barriers to rural service delivery. It was implemented in a pilot test in eight low-incidence, predominantly rural states of the Rocky Mountain/Great Plains region. A unique aspect of the project is the use of a case-study format in both instruction and evaluation instruments.

Results: The Self-Study Module was effective in initiating significant changes in pre-and post-test knowledge, skills and ability scores, and was well-received by participating health care providers. Preliminary results were conclusive for: significant increases in pre-and post-test knowledge scores (p=0.01); improved skills and abilities ratings for taking a sexual and drug use history, providing pre-and post HIV antibody test counseling, safer sex and risk reduction counseling, HIV clinical assessments and the ability to care for asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV patients (p=0.01, respectively).

Lessons learned: The Self-Study Module, with its case study format, is an effective and well-received model for providing HIV/AIDS prevention, early intervention and health promotion training for rural health care providers. Based on these results, the Self-Study Module is being implemented on a larger scale in the eight-state region.

Contact:Sara J. Martin, UCHSC Box A089, 4200 E. Ninth Avenue, Denver, CO 80262, USA. Telephone: 303.355.1305, Fax: 303.355.1448, or email at sara.martin@uchsc.edu.

Back to Volume 1, Issue 6

Back to SPNS/Fax Directory