Attitudes and Training Needs of New England HIV Care and Addiction Treatment Providers: Opportunities for Better Integration of HIV and Alcohol Treatment Services.
OBJECTIVE
Unhealthy alcohol use is common among HIV-infected patients and contributes to co-morbidities, cognitive decline, unprotected sex, and poor medication adherence. Studies consistently show missed opportunities to address unhealthy alcohol use as part of care. Although treatment of other drug use has been integrated into HIV care in some settings, more information is needed regarding provider attitudes regarding the need for integration of alcohol treatment and HIV care.


METHODS
We surveyed 119 HIV and 159 addiction providers regarding the following domains: existing knowledge, desire for new knowledge (with subdomains relative advantage, compatibility, and complexity of integrating knowledge), and individual and program development needs. Scale scores for each domain were correlated with demographics to identify factors associated with training need.


RESULTS
Both HIV and addiction providers reported agreement with statements of existing knowledge and the need for additional skills. The priority attributed to training, however, was low for both groups. Knowledge and perceived prevalence of HIV and unhealthy alcohol use increased with years of experience. Perceived prevalence correlated with compatibility but not the relative advantage of training.


CONCLUSIONS
Though addressing alcohol use and HIV was acknowledged to be important, the priority of this was low, particularly early career providers. These providers may be important targets for training focusing on motivating coordination of care and skills related to assessment and counseling.
Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University, Providence, RI.
Brian T
BT
Montague
Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI.
Christopher W
CW
Kahler
Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI.
Suzanne M
SM
Colby
Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University, Providence, RI.
R Kathryn
RK
McHugh
Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI.
Daniel
D
Squires
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA.
Brianne
B
Fitzgerald
Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI.
Don
D
Operario
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA.
Donna
D
Gallagher
Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI.
Peter M
PM
Monti
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Kenneth H
KH
Mayer
HIV; addiction treatment; alcohol; education