Health worker attitudes toward peer workers in hepatitis C prevention

Abstract

Attitudes toward people who inject drugs (PWID) and attitudes toward peer workers among a cross-section of 101 Australian hepatitis C health workers were assessed. A survey consisting of Likert-type questions and one open-ended question regarding training was used. Bivariate and regression analyses demonstrated that health workers' attitudes toward peer workers were associated with their attitudes toward PWID, independent of type of organization or time in the hepatitis C sector. Qualitative analysis revealed four training areas suggested by health workers for peer workers. Implications of these findings for staff and peer training are discussed and future research directions suggested.

Keywords:

• health workers
• peer education
• attitudes
• injecting drug use
• hepatitis C prevention
• stereotype threat

Acknowledgments

The National Centre in HIV Social Research is supported by a grant from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. We thank the conference delegates and conference organizers for their involvement and support.