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Thesis/Dissertation Information
- Degree Disciplines:
- Nursing
Notes
- Abstract:
- Background: The aged population with or at risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is growing in the United States (U.S.) with an increased need for nurse practitioners (NPs) to accurately screen and test older adults for HIV. Guidelines recommend routine screening and testing in all patients up to the age of 64. All adults older than 64 years old should be evaluated for HIV risk factors, with subsequent HIV prevention counseling and testing if identified to be at risk. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to determine primary care NPs’ approach to HIV screening and testing with adults aged 50 and older. Theoretical Framework: An adapted version of Pender’s health promotion model was used to describe how primary care NPs provided anticipatory HIV screening and testing to promote optimal health and/or prevent disease during late adulthood. Methods: A cross-sectional design was utilized. A survey was sent via U.S. mail to 1,199 randomly selected primary care NPs across the nation. Descriptive statistics were calculated to analyze the NPs’ HIV screening and testing practices. Results: The statistical analysis included a total of 312 survey responses. Most participants (45.7%) were aware of the current guidelines for HIV screening and testing. Only 7.8% utilized a routine-based approach to HIV testing with their patients aged 50 to 64. Risk-based HIV testing practices with adults greater than 64 years old ranged from 39% to 66%. The most commonly cited barrier to HIV testing was the perception that their patients are at low risk for HIV (58.6%). Conclusions: The project revealed that the HIV screening and testing recommendations in national guidelines have not been widely adopted into practice. Factors directly contributing to the low HIV screening and testing practices include the misperception of providers that their patients are low risk, knowledge deficits regarding the legal procedures or implications associated with HIV testing, and inexperience in providing pre-test or risk reduction counseling. Targeted educational interventions and policy changes at the state and institutional level may increase HIV screening and testing of older adults in the United States. ( , )
- Thesis:
- Thesis (D.N.P.)--Barry University, 2013.
- Thesis:
- Nursing Capstone Project.
- Bibliography:
- Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-93).
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- Barry University
- Holding Location:
- Barry University Archives and Special Collections
- Rights Management:
- Copyright Yolanda E. Lorenzo. Permission granted to Barry University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
- Resource Identifier:
- QR414.6.H58 L67 2013_LorenzoYolanda ( BU-Local )
- Classification:
- QR414.6.H58 L67 2013 ( lcc )
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