An integrative approach to cultural competence education for advanced practice nurses.

A project funded by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provided the impetus for the development of four cultural competence modules taught in a graduate program at a university-based school of nursing. These modules have been consistently taught for 6 years. The authors describe the modules' content, educational strategies, required faculty training, and evaluation and measurement of outcomes. The authors recommend use of the modules and make suggestions for future implementation. Cultural competence is essential for 21st-century practice. The impending national and global health care crises require educational approaches that are cost-effective and tested. These modules are recommended to meet this educational challenge.

Assessing social preparedness for antiretroviral therapy in a generalized AIDS epidemic: a diffusion of innovations approach.

Researchers conducted focus groups in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa concerning AIDS and treatment options. Constituent groups included adults aged 25-45, HIV/AIDS caregivers, HIV-positive adults, nurses, rural elders, teenagers, and traditional healers. This pilot work aimed to gather early evidence on perceptions about the government's rollout of antiretroviral treatment (ART), identify potential barriers to success, and inform a subsequent pilot survey. Diffusion of innovations theory was used to interpret the data and helped identify potential obstacles to the ART rollout. AIDS stigma and a weakened healthcare system were negatively impacting the program. There was a lack of accurate knowledge about HIV/AIDS and antiretroviral treatment, with wide disparities among groups. Many people were not convinced that antiretroviral treatment is superior to other treatments, and a few people were afraid it was poisonous. There was no evidence that people were aware of the long-term difficulties of adherence to the regimen.

Modification and translation of the Thai version of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) has been used as a standard and updated as required for 15 years to measure risk behavior among American youth. This article discusses the modification and translation of the YRBS to be used to measure risk among youth in Thailand. The steps involved included not only modification and translation but also testing of cross-cultural equivalences (semantic, content, and conceptual) and assessment of feasibility and acceptability of the modified survey among adolescents in Thailand. The process is described and findings discussed.

Public health nurses for Virginia's future: a collaborative project to increase the number of nursing students choosing a career in public health nursing.

A shift in the role of public health practice in the United States to population-focused care, together with demographic shifts increasing the diversity and age of the population, has created a need for a public health workforce more highly skilled in community and population-based practices. Despite this need, few changes have been made in the pattern of field placements for nursing students, in part because many public health nurses in population-focused roles are unfamiliar with models of successful student fieldwork in their areas. We describe the Public Health Nurses for Virginia's Future project, a successful project undertaken by nurse educators and public health leaders to increase the number of highly qualified graduates working in state and local health departments.

Caring for sexual minority youths. A guide for nurses.

Nurses have the opportunity to assist sexual minority youths in making healthy transitions to adulthood. Being aware of the challenges that sexual minority youths experience, nurses can be attentive to their specific needs and risk factors, and provide sensitive care. Nurses can draw on their interpersonal, nursing assessment, and advocacy skills to promote a positive health care experience for sexual minority youths.

Vaginal microbicides for HIV/STI prevention in Zimbabwe: what key informants say.

The purpose of this study was to assess the acceptability of vaginal microbicides as prevention methods for heterosexually transmitted HIV. Interviews were conducted with key informants in and around Harare using a semistructured questionnaire with probes. Twenty-seven interviews were conducted with a total of 48 informants. Most women were enthusiastic about the products but had concerns about safety and how the use of these products might affect their relationships with their husbands. Many men were concerned that women would be able to use the products without their consent or knowledge. Several products may be acceptable in this culture but must be introduced within the existing gender power structure. This study provides a model for involving community leaders in the design of culturally appropriate clinical trials.