Background: Clinical training regarding STDs is important for all practitioners to update and improve their patient management ability. Didactic presentations can efficiently convey information, but do not necessarily result in changes in practice or an increase in skill level. Experiential trainings provide hands-on practice in developing new skills. Many clinicians may not be aware of the array of experiential trainings that are available through the NNPTC, which addresses the STD/HIV educational needs of clinical providers through both didactic and experiential training.

Purpose: To increase awareness of interactive and experiential training activities for STD clinicians, and to provide a “taste” of skill-building experiences.

Methods (instructional approach): Didactic presentations: presenters will outline NNPTC experiential courses and components in the following areas: (45 minutes)

A. Introduction: Experiential vs didactic trainings (5 minutes, Rietmeijer)

B. Exam skills courses (10 minutes, Bachman)

C. Laboratory procedure courses (10 minutes, Creegan)

1. Tests for the STD specialty lab: Syphilis tests (non-treponemal serologic tests, darkfield microscopy), wet mounts and Gram stains

2. STD Point of Care (POC) tests

D. Interactive approaches (10 minutes, Hogan, 1 and 2; Rietmeijer, 3 and 4)

1. “Virtual clinic” demonstrations

2. Skills for nurse clinicians using standing order protocols in rural clinic settings.

3. Discussion of challenging cases

4. Precepting in model STD clinics

E. Interactive web-based courses on STD case management (10 minutes, Hsu)

Skill-building stations: Participants will participate in two skills-building stations, facilitated by faculty: (30 minutes each)

A. Laboratory test interpretation, syphilis serology case discussion. Jennings

B. Risk reduction counseling. Coury-Doniger

C. Exam with male and female pelvic models. Bachmann & Rompalo

D. Virtual clinic, taking a sexual history. Creegan