HIV prevention for people with serious mental illness: a survey of mental health workers’ attitudes, knowledge and practice

Hughes, Elizabeth and Gray, Richard (2009) HIV prevention for people with serious mental illness: a survey of mental health workers’ attitudes, knowledge and practice. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18 (4). pp. 591-600. ISSN 1365-2702

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Abstract

Aim. The aim of this survey was to investigate the attitudes, knowledge and reported practice (capabilities) of mental health workers concerning humanimmunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases in people with serious mental illness. Background. People with serious mental illness are at increased risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Mental health workers have a key role to play in promoting sexual health in this population, but it is unclear how they perceive their role in this work and whether they have the capabilities to deliver sexual health promotion. Design. Cross sectional survey. Methods. A questionnaire was devised and distributed to 650 mental health workers working in a London (UK) NHS mental health service. Results. A response rate of 44% was achieved. Overall, workers reported positive attitudes to sexual health promotion and were knowledgeable about risk behaviours and risk factors for HIV infection. Adherence to glove wearing was good. However, participants’ knowledge about HIV/AIDS in people with schizophrenia was poor and most reported they were not engaged in sexual health promotion activities with people with serious mental illness. Glove wearing was predicted by those who had drug and alcohol training and clinical experience and knowledge of risk factors was predicted by previous health promotion training. No other demographic factors predicted any of the other subscales. Conclusion. Mental health workers require training to provide skills for health promotion regarding sexual health and HIV in people with serious mental health problems. In addition, there needs to be more research on risk behaviours.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Nursing and Midwifery (former - to 2011)
Depositing User:	Users 2731 not found.
Date Deposited:	22 Nov 2011 13:29
Last Modified:	23 Oct 2022 01:53
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/35528
DOI:	10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.02227.x

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