Training Medical Professionals in the Prevention and Intervention of AIDS (original) (raw)

Most physicians can expect to counsel a family or individual concerned about possible exposure to acquired immue deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Medical professionals need comprehensive AIDS training and educational programs which cover medical, epidemiologic, psychosocial, and neuropsychiatric aspects of AIDS. Counseling psychologists can provide a unique perspective and service in training health care professionals in the prevention and intervention of AIDS by helping them acquire or alter personal-social skills, improve adaptability to changing life demands, enhance environmental coping skills, and develop a variety of problem-solving and decision-making capabilities. Counseling psychologists can help medical personnel develop the counseling skills they need to support the patient and family and to help them make appropriate decisions, adjustments, and changes in behavior necessary to cope with the impact of AIDS. Not only can counseling psychologists train medical personnel to positively impact AIDS patients, they can also impact hospital policies which adversely affect AIDS patients. By training medical personnel to enhance healthful behavior patterns through the development of interpersonal and counseling skills, attitude change, and a reduction in discomfort and conflict which may interfere with quality patient care, counseling psychologists can greatly impact the AIDS crisis. (NB)