Background:
Pharmacists may play an important role in HIV/STD surveillance, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and counseling. Understanding decisions by pharmacists-in-training to engage in HIV/STD counseling is an important part of understanding current practice and of improving education and training.


Objective:
To understand the relationship between pharmacists-in-training's attitudes and beliefs, and their intentions to engage in HIV/STD counseling.

Method:
78 participants answered 39 items regarding their beliefs, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived barriers to providing HIV/STD counseling. A two step cluster analysis was performed in SPSS.

Result:
48% of the respondents indicated they do not intend (“Non-Intenders”) and 62% indicated they do intend (“Intenders”) to provide HIV/STD counseling. Only the belief that the patient viewed counseling as unnecessary was significantly correlated with intention to engage (r =-0.25). Step one of the cluster analysis identified three clusters. Step two examined and compared mean scores between-clusters (Cluster 1, 2 and 3) and within-clusters (Intenders and Non-Intenders). Cluster 1 has the lowest mean score for an item concerning the presence of established rules in the workplace. Cluster 1 was named “Hesitant Counselors.” These pharmacists may be unlikely to provide HIV/STD counseling but are more likely to do so if it is required. Cluster 2 has a fairly high mean score for privacy and the highest mean score for time; therefore, Cluster 2 was named “Practical Counselors.” These pharmacists will likely counsel if there are available resources (time and privacy). Cluster 3 has the highest mean scores for beliefs regarding patient reluctance; therefore, Cluster 3 was named "Engaged Counselors." These pharmacists appear likely to engage in HIV/STD counseling behaviors unless they perceive patient reluctance.

Conclusion:
Pharmacists-in-training appear to cluster into three distinct groups in terms of their willingness to engage in HIV/STD counseling.

Implications:
These differences should be considered in future research, intervention, and prevention efforts.