title: Role of Service Providers of Needle Syringe Program in Preventing HIV/AIDS.
abstract: To provide a national-scale picture of the needle exchange program in Taiwan, this study examined (a) needle and syringe program (NSP) service providers' AIDS-relevant harm reduction knowledge and attitudes; and (b) NSP services schemes and operation barriers encountered by different service modalities. A self-administrated questionnaire was mailed to all participating NSP service providers in Taiwan. A total of 414 service providers completed the postal survey. This study confirms that NSP service providers play an essential role in providing comprehensive activities to reduce HIV/AIDS infection for drug misusers. Knowledge and attitudes of service providers were found to be independently and important predictors of NSP service provisions. Community-based and clinical-based providers had diverse service schemes and encountered operation problems due to different organization characteristics, professional training, and ethical concern. For the future planning of NSP programs, service-specific education and professional support are essential component of service delivery and quality.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzu-I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Donald E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Morisky
authors.forename: Yi-Ming A
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D040261:Harm Reduction; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000821:virology*; D013624:Taiwan; D000078329:Workforce