245249 Understanding the role of healthcare providers in promoting preventative health behaviors to patients in order to reduce HIV and STI transmission

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Kristen Jozkowski, MS , Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Alireza Geshnizjani, MS, MPH , Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Susan E. Middlestadt, PhD , Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
BACKGROUND: Many health problems have been alleviated via engagement in preventative health behaviors such as vaccination and condom-use. Public health continues to promote engagement in preventative health behaviors via educational interventions. The provider-patient interaction may play a role in increasing preventative health behaviors, however little research has examined this issue. METHODS: In order to investigate providers' role in acting as a facilitator and/or barrier to engagement in preventative sexual health behaviors among female patients, in-depth interviews were conducted with women's clinic providers at a university health center using the Reasoned Action Approach. Data was transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the hierarchical content analysis inductive model RESULTS: Participants included female nurse practitioners and medical doctors who had been employed by the health center for over 5 years. Providers felt comfortable and confident discussing health issues including promoting preventative health behaviors such as HIV/STI testing, vaccines, and condom-use. Providers mentioned using a health history questionnaire to guide them through patients' health histories and behaviors. However, they stated that time restraints greatly limit their ability to adequately address preventative health practices especially when a more pressing issue needed to be addressed. Providers indicated they often did not remember to address HIV/STI screenings, vaccination or condom-use with their patient even when adequate time was available. CONCLUSIONS: Public health professionals should include providers as a component of prevention interventions and utilize providers as a mechanism to increase preventative health behaviors. Such interventions may help to reduce rates of HIV and other STIs among women.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify factors that influenced providers’ ability to address preventative health issues with their patients using the Reasoned Action Approach. 2. Describe the role of healthcare providers in increasing preventative health behaviors among their patients. 3. Explain how interventions may be able to utilize healthcare providers and other healthcare facility staff to increase preventative health behaviors.

Keywords: Primary Prevention, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a doctoral candidate in Health Behavior at Indiana University. I am also the Research Coordinator for the Center for Sexual Health Promotion and the Coordinator of Research and Evaluation at the IU Health Center at Indiana University. I have extensive experience in sexual health research, including HIV and STI prevention.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: HIV/AIDS Prevention Strategies
See more of: HIV/AIDS