Author(s)

Asuka Waki¹, Yumiko H. Nishimura², Mieko Iwai³, Gaku Okamoto⁴, Mikiko Ito⁵, Yasuharu Hidaka⁶

¹Faculty of Nursing, Senri Kinran University, Osaka, Japan.
²School of Nursing, Kansai University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hyogo, Japan.
³Double-Eyes, Hyogo, Japan.
⁴Division of Medical Counseling, National Hospital Organization Osaka National Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
⁵Department of Public Health Nursing, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan.
⁶School of Nursing, Takarazuka University, Osaka, Japan.

Objective: This study examined the effect of an educational intervention on public health nurses’ attitudes and confidence in dealing with men who have sex with men (MSM). In Japan, HIV is primarily transmitted through sexual contact between men, and free HIV testing and counseling are provided by public health nurses. However, because of a lack of education, public health nurses do not often recognize the existence of MSM in daily life. Thus, improving public health nurses’ understanding of MSM is crucial. Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental design to examine public health nurses’ homophobia, confidence in dealing with MSM, and low awareness of MSM in daily life at pre-test, post-test, and 1 and 3 months follow-ups. The intervention comprised a 3-hour training session conducted between November 2012 and September 2013 in the Kinki region. Results: A total of 124 public health nurses participated in the training, 117 of which were allocated to the intervention group; 182 public health nurses who did not participate in the training session were allocated to a control group. Homophobia scores had significantly decreased at post-test, and remained at that low level by the follow-up at 3 months (pre-test to post-test; p = 0.00, post-test to 1 month; p = 0.83, 1 month to 3 months; p = 0.64, pre-test to 3 months; p = 0.00). Confidence in dealing with MSM and recognition of MSM had significantly increased by post-test; these were also maintained by the follow-up at 3 months (pre-test to post-test; p = 0.0, post-test to 1month; p = 0.18, 1 to 3 months; p = 0.44, pre-test to 3 months; p = 0.0). Discussion: While the three-hour training session was short, it was effective for improving attitudes toward MSM and building confidence in dealing with them.

Men Who Have Sex with Men, Public Health Nurse, HIV, Test, Training

Waki, A. , Nishimura, Y. , Iwai, M. , Okamoto, G. , Ito, M. and Hidaka, Y. (2017) Effectiveness of a Training Program for Improving Public Health Nurses’ Attitudes and Confidence in Dealing with Men Who Have Sex with Men. Open Journal of Nursing, 7, 169-184. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2017.72015.