Determinants of student nurses’ self-assessed tb/hiv coinfection care skill-competence in accra, ghana

Abstract Background Graduating student nurses as the future workforce are expected to possess the requisite skill-competence to care for TB/HIV coinfected patients. However, few studies have investigated the self-assessed TB/HIV coinfection care skill-competence of graduating student nurses and its determinants in Accra, Ghana. Purpose This study investigated final year student nurses’ self-assessed TB/HIV coinfection care skill-competence and its determinants. Methods This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey among Bachelor of Science in nursing (n = 112) and Diploma in nursing (n = 236) students in their final year of training in four (4) nursing training institutions using convenience sampling technique. Descriptive, independent t and Kruskal Wallis mean rank statistical tests were conducted to identify determinants. Results TB/HIV coinfection care skill-competencies were low. Determinants of TB/HIV coinfection care skill-competence were age (r = .110, p = .048), duration of managing patients (r = .219, p = .005) and ownership of nursing training institution (p = .005). Other factors included student nurses’ previous experience working in a TB health facility (p Conclusions Student nurses still have skill-competence gaps in TB/HIV coinfection care. They may not be fully skilled to independently deliver health services to TB/HIV coinfected patients per World Health Organization taskshifting guidelines. Additional training and supervision prior to deployment is required.