The impact of sustained continuing AIDS education on health care workers in Barbados

ABSTRACT

A systematic AIDS Education Programme for health care workers in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados, was implemented in 1992. Between February 1993 and September 1997, 33 seminars and 6 workshops were conducted in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Participants were drawn from all aspects of the health care team, with the greatest numbers, 57 percent being nurses. The process of selection for attendance was by nursing administration and other heads of departments who were invited to nominate participants. Priority for training was given to front line health professionals from the accident & emergency department, as the gateway to the hospital for all emergency admissions, and also to workers on the medical wards, where most AIDS patients were treated for opportunistic infections and the terminally ill cared for. The major focus of the seminars was the care and treatment of affected individuals and the prevention of transmission of HIV. However, fear characterised the concerns of participants. A review of post workshop evaluations showed a marked difference in general attitudes which would most assist participants in performing their duties in the care of HIV affected patients.(AU)