HIV and Rehabilitation Training Needs of Health Professionals in Canada: Results of a National Survey

Authors

  • Catherine Anne Worthington School of Public Health and Social Policy University of Victoria
  • Kelly O'Brien Department of Physical Therapy University of Toronto
  • Ted Myers HIV Social, Behavioural and Epidemiological Studies Unit Dalla Lana School of Public Health University of Toronto
  • Stephanie Nixon Department of Physical Therapy University of Toronto
  • Rhonda Cockerill Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation University of Toronto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22230/jripe.2014v4n1a128

Keywords:

HIV/AIDS, Rehabilitation, Survey, Interprofessional education

Abstract

Background: People with HIV experience a range of health-related challenges that rehabilitation services are well-positioned to address. The purpose of this study was to explore professional knowledge and views about HIV rehabilitation among HIV specialists and rehabilitation professionals in Canada.

Methods and Findings: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional postal survey with a random sample of rehabilitation professionals (physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and physiatrists) (N = 1058) and the known population of HIV specialists (physicians, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, psychologists, and dietitians) in Canada (N = 214). Two-thirds (67%) of rehabilitation professionals disagreed that rehabilitation professionals possess adequate knowledge and skills to assess and treat people living with HIV. The majority of all respondent groups felt that rehabilitation professionals who work with people living with HIV require specialized HIV training. Approximately one-third (32%) of rehabilitation professionals who had served people living with HIV stated they received some HIV training as part of their professional degree.

Conclusions: This was the first national survey to explore HIV specialist and rehabilitation professionals’ knowledge and views about HIV rehabilitation. Findings indicate the need for interprofessional education, training, and mentorship of health professionals to address the gap between the needs of people living with HIV and rehabilitation services provision.

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Published

2014-06-23

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2014)

Section

Articles: Empirical Research

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