Readiness for provision of HIV care among final-year nursing students from one university in the Western Cape

Abstract

Background: HIV is still a health burden that requires healthcare workers to have a high level of readiness for the provision of HIV care. Students are the healthcare workers of tomorrow, and they will play an important role in eradicating the HIV burden in South Africa. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that they are ready to provide care to people living with HIV. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the level of readiness among final- year nursing students for the provision of four aspects of HIV care at one university in the Western Cape nursing training institution. Objectives: Guided by HIV care aspects adopted from the competency model, this study determined the level of readiness of final-year nursing students for the provision of HIV care, specifically with regard to HIV prevention, promotion of health of people living with HIV (PLWH), evaluation of the health status of PLWHIV, and HIV management. Method and sample: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 103 final-year nursing students registered for the 2017 academic year at an urban campus of one of the nursing training institutions in the Western Cape. An all-inclusive sampling technique was applied, and data were collected through the use of a self-administered questionnaire which was completed after written consent had been obtained from the respondents, taking into consideration and adhering to all ethical principles. The designated instrument was validated and tested for reliability prior to the commencement of the survey. Respondents returned the completed questionnaires to the researcher on the same day. Using the IBM® SPSS® Statistics version 24 software, the collected data were captured for statistical analysis with the assistance of a statistician. A score was allocated to each item on the questionnaire, and descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted. Quantitative variables were described through analysis of the frequency of distribution, the median, mean, range, standard deviation and the percentage for categorical variables. Findings: Overall readiness for HIV care among final-year nursing students at one of the nursing training institutions in the Western Cape is moderate, at 73.9%. The results drawn from all four HIV aspects (HIV prevention, health promotion for PLWHIV, evaluation of health status for PLWHIV, and HIV management) were evaluated, with each explored on areas of interest, which were willingness, confidence, and knowledge. A clear picture emerged that the students are highly willing (84.2%), moderately confident (78.6%), but display low levels of knowledge (59%) in all aspects. Students displayed the highest percentages in readiness for health promotion for PLWHIV (79.5%), followed by HIV prevention (73.2%), evaluation of health (71.8%), and lastly HIV, with the lowest score (71.6%). Conclusion: The results indicated a moderate level of readiness. This requires some intervention to be implemented to mitigate the situation in order to improve the readiness of final-year nursing students, thus improving nursing at hospitals and in the healthcare system.