Effectiveness of HIV/Sexually Transmitted Infection Training for Physicians in China

This training uses a curriculum developed specifically for Project Ai Shi Zi and includes training in stigma; risk-reduction counseling; and quality HIV/STI diagnosis, treatment, and management. Physician training will consist of multiple components: an orientation workshop on fundamental knowledge and skills of HIV/STI treatment and prevention, a 3-month practice period, a 3-month post-practice seminar on preventive counseling, another 3-month practice period, and a 6-month post-practice seminar on clinical HIV and STI management. The practice periods will promote learning-by-doing to further enhance physicians' abilities to deliver high quality, integrated HIV/STI prevention and treatment. Post-practice seminars will allow participants to share experiences gained during the previous 3-month practice period.

If an STI is confirmed by a lab test, participants will receive standard of care treatment. Gonorrhea will be treated with a single dose of 250 mg of ceftriaxone sodium administered by intramuscular injection. If patients are allergic to ceftriaxone, they will be treated with azithromycin (2 g single oral dose). Chlamydia will be treated with azithromycin (1 g single oral dose).

On the initial visit, participants will receive HIV/STI risk-behavior counseling from the physician trained in Ai Shi Zi. The process is based on motivational interviewing techniques and will include discussing topics such as partner notification, HIV/STI prevention, and expected difficulties in changing behaviors. This risk-reduction model encourages the HIV/STI-infected or -uninfected person to develop a risk-reduction plan. The objective is to decrease the chance of infection for that individual and for others, too. Patients will develop a list of risk-reduction strategies to follow.