title: [Applying the Modified Delphi Technique to Develop the Role of HIV Case Managers and Essential Nursing Competencies in HIV Care].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since 2005, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) initiated an HIV case management program in AIDS-designated hospitals to provide integrative services and risk-reduction counseling for HIV-infected individuals. In light of the increasingly complex and highly specialized nature of clinical care, expanding and improving competency-based professional education is important to enhance the quality of HIV/AIDS care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to develop the essential competency framework for HIV care for HIV case managers in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed essential competencies of HIV care from Canada, the United Kingdom, and several African countries and devised descriptions of the roles of case managers and of the associated core competencies for HIV care in Taiwan. The modified Delphi technique was used to evaluate the draft framework of these roles and core competencies. A total of 15 HIV care experts were invited to join the expert panel to review and rank the draft framework.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The final framework consisted of 7 roles and 27 competencies for HIV case managers. In Round 1, only 3 items did not receive consensus approval from the experts. After modification based on opinions of the experts, 7 roles and 27 competencies received 97.06% consensus approval in Round 2 and were organized into the final framework for HIV case managers. These roles and associated core competencies were: HIV Care Expert (9 competencies), Communicator (1 competency), Collaborator (4 competencies), Navigator (2 competencies), Manager (4 competencies), Advocate (2 competencies), and Professional (5 competencies).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors developed an essential competency framework for HIV care using the consensus of a multidisciplinary expert panel. Curriculum developers and advanced nurses and practitioners may use this framework to support developments and to ensure a high quality of HIV care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Nai-Ying
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chia-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yen-Chin
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chen-Hsi
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Hsiao-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Nurses AIDS Prevention Foundation, Taiwan, ROC. napf@ms29.hinet.net.
authors.forename: Li-Fang
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D019090:Case Management; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003697:Delphi Technique; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D024382:Professional Role
keywords: Delphi; HIV/AIDS care; case management; core competency