Predictors of readiness for oral rapid HIV testing by Chilean health care providers

ABSTRACT Objective This study identified the personal characteristics that affect Chilean health care providers’ readiness to adopt HIV Oral Rapid Testing (ORT) in Chile as a new clinical evidence-based practice (EBP). Methods Using a cross-sectional research design, the study sampled 150 nurses, mi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lisette P. Irarrázabal, Judith A. Levy, Kathleen F. Norr, Rosina Cianelli, L. Michele Issel, Carlos M. Pérez, Anna Hotton
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Spanish
Portuguese
Published: Pan American Health Organization
Subjects:
HIV
health care
readiness
disease prevention
Chile
Medicine
R
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
RC955-962
Public aspects of medicine
RA1-1270
Arctic
Online Access:https://doaj.org/article/77b71de7b1554896aa18920e3ef835f3
Description
Summary:ABSTRACT Objective This study identified the personal characteristics that affect Chilean health care providers’ readiness to adopt HIV Oral Rapid Testing (ORT) in Chile as a new clinical evidence-based practice (EBP). Methods Using a cross-sectional research design, the study sampled 150 nurses, midwives, and physicians employed at four clinics within the Pontifícia Universidad Católica de Chile Health Network in Santiago. Participants completed a self-administered survey asking about their demographic background, EBP attitudes and experience, personal beliefs related to HIV, the importance of HIV testing, and perceived self-comfort in performing a rapid HIV test. Results Of the participants, 90% believed that incorporating ORT would make a positive difference in their practice and said that they would be willing to adopt the technology for that reason. Nonetheless, the providers reported a mean “readiness to implement ORT” score of 15.1 out of a possible value of 20, suggesting only moderate self-perceived readiness to adopt the EBP. Education, beliefs about evidence-based practice, perceived comfort in performing ORT, and perceived importance of HIV testing explained 43.6% of the variance in readiness to adopt ORT. Conclusion The findings of this first ORT pre-implementation study in Chile can help guide policy makers and HIV stakeholders to prepare for and increase primary health care providers’ readiness to successfully adopt this evidence-based technology. Successful adoption of ORT could increase Chile’s capacity to reach HIV-vulnerable Chileans for testing and referral to care if infected, thus helping the country to reduce further transmission of the virus and its medical complications.

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