An integrated approach to HIV-related curriculum for physician's assistant students
Citation
Pollard RB, Lyons BA, Muma RD. An integrated approach to HIV-related curriculum for physician's assistant students. Abstracts of the Fifth International Conference on AIDS. Montreal Canada; 1989, Jun 4-9; 5: 907 (abstract no. E.627).
Abstract
The Department of Physician's Assistant Studies developed and implemented a curriculum
to teach physician's assistant students about the didactic, clinical, and psychosocial aspects
of HIV infection. Student attitudes about AIDS and AIDS patients were measured using the
Shrum-Turner AIDS Attitude Questionnaire at various points in the program curricula. The
object of the model curriculum has been not only to make physician's assistants students
more knowledgeable about the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and prevention of AIDS diseases
but to stimulate an awareness of the psychosocial consequences and implications of HIV
infections as well. An integrated methodology was devised for the junior year curriculum
which placed appropriate information in numerous existing courses beginning with the
Patient Evaluation II and Problem Solving Techniques I and extending through the
Preventive Medicine and Community Health and Human Dynamics III courses. For senior
students, the materials were covered in several senior seminars at the end of clinical
rotations. Senior students also participated in a 4-week rotation with direct clinical contact
with HIV-infected patients. Prior to patient contact, all students are taught basic principles
in pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment/prevention for care of patients with HIV
infections. Results of the attitude survey will be utilized to make adjustments in the
program curriculum.