Exploring the Gauteng comprehensive HIV and AIDS care, management and treatment training programme

Abstract

In 2003/2004, the provinces of South Africa developed a Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Care, Management and Treatment (CCMT) training curriculum to provide healthcare professionals with specialised knowledge and skills to deliver comprehensive HIV and AIDS care, management and treatment services for persons infected with HIV and AIDS. The initiative was in response to the decision to introduce Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).The report was presented to Cabinet by the Joint Health and Treasury Task Team (JHTTT) on the 8th August 2003. The purpose of this research study was to explore the learning experiences and challenges encountered by healthcare professionals trained on the Gauteng Department of Health(GDoH) CCMT training programme during transfer of learning to workplaces between 2004 and 2010. The research methodology used was a qualitative research approach and the research design was a basic interpretive research study. The research participants consisted of six doctors and six professional nurses employed in the Gauteng province. The main findings are that healthcare professionals trained in the GDoH CCMT training programme felt that the programme provided them with the knowledge and skills to render the ART services. In addition, most of the participants valued and preferred the multidisciplinary group to be taught in the same class. The majority of doctors felt that they required more of a clinical focus training approach to effectively apply their learning from the CCMT training programme.