Adaptation and Implementation of an Intervention to Reduce HIV-Related Stigma Among Healthcare Workers in the United States: Piloting of the FRESH Workshop.
HIV-related stigma has been shown to have profound effects on people living with HIV (PLWH). When stigma is experienced in a healthcare setting, negative health outcomes are exacerbated. We sought to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a healthcare setting stigma-reduction intervention, the Finding Respect and Ending Stigma around HIV (FRESH) Workshop, in the United States. This intervention, adapted from a similar strategy implemented in Africa, brought together healthcare workers (HW) and PLWH to address HIV-related stigma. Two pilot workshops were conducted in Alabama and included 17 HW and 19 PLWH. Participants completed questionnaire measures pre- and post-workshop, including open-ended feedback items. Analytical methods included assessment of measures reliability, pre-post-test comparisons using paired t-tests, and qualitative content analysis. Overall satisfaction with the workshop experience was high, with 87% PLWH and 89% HW rating the workshop "excellent" and the majority agreeing that others like themselves would be interested in participating. Content analysis of open-ended items revealed that participants considered the workshop informative, interactive, well-organized, understandable, fun, and inclusive, while addressing real and prevalent issues. Most pre- and post-test measures had good-excellent internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alphas ranging from 0.70 to 0.96) and, although sample sizes were small, positive trends were observed, reaching statistical significance for increased awareness of stigma in the health facility among HW (p = 0.047) and decreased uncertainty about HIV treatment among PLWH (p = 0.017). The FRESH intervention appears to be feasible and highly acceptable to HW and PLWH participants and shows great promise as a healthcare setting stigma-reduction intervention for US contexts.
['Batey|D Scott|DS|', 'Whitfield|Samantha|S|', 'Mulla|Mazheruddin|M|', 'Stringer|Kristi L|KL|', 'Durojaiye|Modupeoluwa|M|', 'McCormick|Lisa|L|', 'Turan|Bulent|B|', 'Nyblade|Laura|L|', 'Kempf|Mirjam-Colette|MC|', 'Turan|Janet M|JM|']
D000328:Adult D000407:Alabama D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel D003695:Delivery of Health Care D005240:Feasibility Studies D005260:Female D015658:HIV Infections D006282:Health Personnel D006801:Humans D008297:Male D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care D010865:Pilot Projects D016730:Program Development D015397:Program Evaluation D036301:Qualitative Research D015203:Reproducibility of Results D057545:Social Stigma D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D014481:United States
interventions stigma healthcare workers United States HIV/AIDS discrimination