Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding human immunodeficiency virus and in-home testing among a regional sample of student pharmacists

Training student pharmacists to facilitate human immunodeficiency virus point-of-care testing

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The advent of HIV point-of-care testing (POCT) has increased ease of access to HIV testing in the outpatient setting. As community pharmacy continues to expand, it is crucial that student pharmacists are exposed to POCT in the classroom so they are prepared for more intensive training as a pharmacist as they could be providing POCT in future practice. Our objective was to train student pharmacists to perform HIV POCT and educate patients on results and implications of testing. Educational activity and setting: Following a didactic HIV lecture, second-year student pharmacists learned to utilize the OraQuick ADVANCE Rapid HIV-½ Antibody Test in a one-hour workshop. Participants were then assessed using a 4-point Likert type scale during an individual, 10-min skills lab on their ability to provide POCT using sample kits and interpret simulated results. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

FINDINGS

Forty-one students participated. Students showed competency when performing HIV POCT, as 92.7% of students were able to describe the test, and 97.6% of students were able to interpret the results correctly. Students scored a mean of 46.2 points overall (maximum of 50).

SUMMARY

Results suggest training student pharmacists to perform HIV POCT may better prepare them to administer the test and counsel patients on results in an outpatient setting. Future studies should examine the differences in the ability to perform POCT between pharmacists who received training as students and those who did not.

Assessment of Pharmacy Student Perceptions Toward Common Stigmas Associated with Persons Living with HIV

Objective. To analyze pharmacy students' views of societal stigmas often facing persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods. A 20-item survey conducted across a dual-campus school of pharmacy examined students' approval of societal aspects of the lives of persons living with HIV. Pharmacy students anonymously exchanged completed survey instruments to learn about peers' viewpoints. Survey instruments were analyzed and ranked by most commonly occurring responses and gender designations. Chi square tests were used for statistical analyses, with p<.05 considered significant. Results. Over three years, 260 female students and 104 male students (364 total) completed the survey. Approximately one fifth of the study sample stated that they did not have a problem placing their children (if applicable) in a daycare center with children who were living with HIV. Greater than one third of the students in the study sample were not opposed to placing their elderly parents (if applicable) in a facility that included residents living with HIV. Fewer female than male students had reservations about couples living with HIV being allowed to have children. Male students were less averse than female students to having their name and picture associated with HIV prevention on the internet. Conclusion. This study revealed that some pharmacy students held stigmatizing beliefs regarding persons living with HIV. The discriminatory views of participants in this study sample may directly or indirectly affect health outcomes of persons living with HIV. To better address health care challenges within this community, Doctor of Pharmacy programs should provide sustainable opportunities for students to explore their own HIV biases and additional education about the difficulties that persons living with HIV encounter.