Evolution of HIV Health Care Workforce Needs in the U.S. Mountain West During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Method Study

Claudia R Amura; Julia Thorne; Meagan Bean; Lisa Krug Avery; Laurie N Sylla; Hillary K Liss; Paul F Cook

doi:10.1097/JNC.0000000000000448

Evolution of HIV Health Care Workforce Needs in the U.S. Mountain West During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Method Study

J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2024 Mar-Apr;35(2):78-90. doi: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000448. Epub 2024 Jan 12.

Authors

Claudia R Amura¹, Julia Thorne, Meagan Bean, Lisa Krug Avery, Laurie N Sylla, Hillary K Liss, Paul F Cook

Affiliation

¹ Claudia R. Amura, PhD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor of Research, University of Colorado College of Nursing, and is a Director of the Latino Health Certificate, Latino Research of Policy Center, Colorado School of Public University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA. Julia Thorne, is an MPH Graduate, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA. Meagan Bean, is a Latino Health Certificate and MPH Candidate, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA. Lisa Krug Avery, MSW, is a Professional Research Assistant, Department of Behavioral, Family and Population Health, College of Nursing, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA. Laurie N. Sylla, MHSA, is the Director, Mountain West AIDS Training Education Center, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. Hillary K. Liss, MD, is a Clinical Associate Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. Paul F. Cook, PhD, is a Professor and Chair, Department of Behavioral, Family and Population Health, College of Nursing, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.

PMID: 38949905
PMCID: PMC11217585 (available on 2025-01-12)
DOI: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000448

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected health care delivery for vulnerable populations. Many facilities shifted services to telemedicine, and people with HIV or at risk of acquiring HIV experienced interruptions in care. Simultaneously, traditional training approaches to help providers adapt were disrupted. Using a mixed method approach to examine changes over time, we integrated data on trainee needs collected by the Mountain West AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC): a 10-state needs assessment survey in 2020; feedback from a 2020 community of practice; aggregate training data from 2000 to 2022; and a second survey in 2022. HIV care providers' training needs evolved from wanting support on telemedicine and COVID-19 patient care issues, to a later focus on mental health and substance use, social determinants of health, and care coordination. This integrative analysis demonstrates the vital role that AETCs can play in addressing evolving and emergent public health challenges for the HIV workforce.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
Delivery of Health Care / organization & administration
Female
HIV Infections* / epidemiology
Health Personnel* / education
Health Services Needs and Demand
Health Workforce
Humans
Male
Needs Assessment*
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Telemedicine
United States / epidemiology

Grants and funding

UL1 RR025780/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States