From intention to STI prevention: An online questionnaire on barriers and facilitators for discussing sexual risk behaviour among HIV nurses

Aims We aimed to elucidate facilitators and barriers that HIV nurses experience in discussing sexual risk behaviour with HIV-positive men who have sex with men, using variables from a previous qualitative study and the theory of planned behaviour. Background HIV-positive men who have sex with men are frequently diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections, which can be reduced if HIV nurses discuss sexual risk behaviour. Design An online questionnaire was disseminated in April 2015 among all HIV nurses in the Netherlands. Methods We assessed variables, such as attitudes, shame, ability, knowledge and time concerns. A regression analysis was conducted with “intention to discuss sexual risk behaviour” as an outcome variable. Results The questionnaire was completed by 60 of 79 HIV nurses. Overall, participants reported high intentions to discuss sexual risk behaviour, and 38% of the variance was explained by attitude, sexual preference, knowing ways to introduce the topic and experiencing enough time or viewing it as a priority. In addition, high intenders significantly differed from low intenders in “experienced shame,” “relation with patients,” “non-verbal communication,” “subjective norm” and “knowledge.” Conclusion Improving sexual health in HIV care translates into improving opportunities and the facilitating factors in initiating the discussion of sexual risk behaviour rather than removing barriers HIV nurses experience. Interventions should mainly focus on improving the HIV nurses’ perceived ability to initiate the topic of sexual risk behaviour and to utilize the jargon and terminology that is commonly used among men who have sex with men.