Hope, attitudes, emotions, and expectations in healthcare providers of services to patients infected with HIV

The results of this preliminary study of 94 healthcare providers show that they had high hope levels when working with patients infected with HIV. The providers named imparting hope during the counseling process as the most important intervention for increasing patients' treatment adherence. Although half of the respondents had uncertain expectations for the future of their patients, more than one third had hopeful expectations, with only a small minority having hopeless expectations. An overwhelming majority reported they did not have negative attitudes toward or uncomfortable feelings when working with patients who were infected with HIV, regardless of method of acquiring HIV, gender, or sexual orientation. Moreover, respondents seemed to have a balanced emotional state, with the majority reporting that they experienced more positive emotions than negative emotions when working with their patients over time. Implications for healthcare providers are discussed.