Medical and nursing students' attitudes about AIDS issues

A 12-item questionnaire was administered in late 1987-early 1988 to 445 medical students, 133 medical school applicants, and 111 nursing students to assess any differences in their attitudes toward medicine-related AIDS issues. These groups were also given a 31-item test of their knowledge of AIDS issues. Significant differences by levels of knowledge were obtained for eight of the 12 attitude items. For example, the more knowledgeable the student, the less likely he or she was to refuse treatment to an AIDS patient, to require mandatory AIDS testing of physicians, or to require medical personnel to wear gloves. The findings strongly suggest that education has an important role in changing attitudes about AIDS in a direction that fosters better health care for AIDS patients.     

Characteristics of African-Americans with multiple risk factors associated with HIV/AIDS

Multiple risk factors in young African-Americans have tremendous implications for the spread of AIDS. Two hundred forty-two heterosexual college students were classified as having low, moderate, or high risk for HIV infection based upon their self-reported sexual practices. Results indicated that subjects differed in AIDS knowledge and attitudes toward condoms with respect to both Gender and Risk level, with men and High Risk individuals being less knowledgeable and having more negative attitudes than their female and Low Risk counterparts respectively. Interaction effects revealed that High Risk men were less knowledgeable than both Low Risk men and High Risk women. High Risk men as well as High and Low Risk women reported more anger surrounding condom usage than Low Risk men. Low perceptions of vulnerability for AIDS were reflected in the entire sample. The implications of this study for primary prevention and future research are discussed.     

AIDS: knowledge, skills and attitudes among vocational trainees and their trainers.

In order to assess the adequacy of learning about the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in vocational training for general practice, a postal questionnaire survey was carried out among trainers and their trainees in seven health regions of England and Scotland. A total of 616 trainers (62%) and 538 trainees (58%) responded to the questionnaire asking about their knowledge, skills and attitudes regarding HIV and AIDS. Trainees' principal difficulties with HIV and AIDS resembled those of general practitioners currently in practice. More than 60% of trainees lacked knowledge about HIV and AIDS in babies, 50% would not accept intravenous drug misusers onto their list, only 12% found it easy to discuss sex with homosexual male patients, and only 37% felt able to offer counselling about HIV and AIDS. Trainees who had had a tutorial on HIV and AIDS as part of vocational training were significantly more knowledgeable than the remainder (P less than 0.01). In addition, trainees who found workshops on HIV and AIDS useful were more willing than others to take on drug misusers (P less than 0.05) and more confident in their ability to counsel patients with HIV infection (P less than 0.01). No significant associations were found between the trainers' own knowledge, attitudes and skills regarding HIV and AIDS and those of their trainees. It is concluded that there is a need to improve teaching about HIV and AIDS in vocational training for general practice. All general practitioner trainees should receive a tutorial to update their knowledge about HIV and AIDS, and attend a suitable workshop to challenge unfavourable attitudes and improve confidence in counselling.     

Developmental Progression in Children's Knowledge of AIDS: Implications for Education and Attitudinal Change

The effectiveness of curricula designed to enhance a child'sunderstanding of AIDS may hinge partially upon incorporatinginformation adjusted to the child's developmental status. Accordingly,we examined the developmental progression of children's understandingof illness transmission in general and AIDS in particular, aswell as explored the relation between a child's knowledge ofAIDS and his/her attitudes toward persons with AIDS. Knowledgeof AIDS was manipulated through use of a brief educational intervention.Results support a developmental progression in knowledge aboutAIDS that is consistent with progressions related to illnessesin general. Knowledge enhancement was associated with positivechanges in attitude.     

Attitudes of African-American Baptist ministers toward AIDS

Results from a survey of the attitudes of African-American Baptist ministers (N = 92) toward acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) revealed that most of the clergy did not perceive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as being a significant risk to their communities. Ministers who had previous HIV prevention/education training felt more comfortable counseling a person with AIDS and were more likely to sponsor workshops and training sessions for their members than were ministers who had not had previous HIV training. Ministers who held professional or college degrees were more likely to not believe that AIDS was a punishment by God and that people with AIDS deserved their illness than were their counterparts with less formal education. Older ministers tended to hold more pejorative attitudes toward homosexuals, HIV, and individuals infected with the virus than did their younger peers.     

Preparing low-income hispanic, black, and white patients for psychotherapy: evaluation of a new orientation program

Examined the effectiveness of a new orientation program designed to prepare low-income white and ethnic minority outpatients for psychotherapy. Sixty-two Hispanic, 51 black, and 60 white psychiatric outpatients in a large public psychiatric clinic participated prior to their first psychotherapy interview. Patients were presented with one of two experimental conditions; the oriented patients saw an audiovisual program that instructed them about psychotherapy, and the control patients saw a program that was neutral with regard to psychotherapy. The patients' knowledge and attitudes toward psychotherapy were assessed with two questionnaires. Results indicated that patients who were oriented were more knowledgeable about psychotherapy and more positive in their attitudes toward psychotherapy than were patients who had not been oriented. The role and utility of brief orientation programs for low-income and ethnic minority outpatients in public mental health facilities are discussed.     

Do New Drivers Equal New Donors? An Examination of Factors Influencing Organ Donation Attitudes and Behaviors in Adolescents

Adolescent and parent organ donation attitudes, knowledge, communications, and donor card signing rates were assessed. Parent-adolescent dyads (N = 137) were recruited at a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Using discriminant analysis, attitude, knowledge, and communication variables adequately classified adolescent donor status. Overall, adolescent positive attitude toward donation was the most powerful variable discriminating between donors and nondonors. Examining only participants who had discussed donation with parents, the nature of parent-adolescent discussions about organ donation became the most important variable in donor classification. Adolescent donors reported significantly more positive and less negative attitudes, had parents with more positive and less negative attitudes, and had engaged in more frequent and more positive communications with parents about organ donation.     

Analysis of Factors Affecting Emergency Physicians’ Attitudes toward Deceased Organ & Tissue Donation

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate differences in knowledge, and attitudes toward deceased organ and tissue donation of emergency physicians. Additionally, we analyzed factors affecting the attitudes toward deceased organ and tissue donation.MethodsWe conducted a survey of specialists and residents registered with the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine in December 2020. The respondents’ sex, age, position, personal registration for organ donation, experience of soliciting organ donation, participation in related education, knowledge, and attitude about brain death organ donation, and attitude toward stopping life-sustaining treatments were investigated. According to the characteristics of the respondents (specialists or residents, experience and education on organ and tissue donation), their knowledge and attitude toward deceased organ donation were compared. Stepwise hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the factors affecting the attitudes toward deceased organ and tissue donation.ResultsOf the total 428 respondents, there were 292 emergency medicine specialists and 136 medical residents. Specialists and those who registered or wished to donate organs had higher knowledge and attitude scores regarding deceased organ and tissue donation. Those who had experience recommending organ and tissue donation more than 6 times had higher knowledge scores on deceased organ and tissue donation and higher overall scores in attitude. Those who received education from the Korean Organ Donation Agency had higher knowledge scores. Specialists, and those who wished to donate or had registered as organ donors and had a higher life-sustaining treatment attitude score and knowledge about deceased organ and tissue donation, had more positive attitudes toward deceased organ and tissue donation.ConclusionFor more potential deceased organ and tissue donors to be referred for donation, there should be continuous education for emergency physicians on brain-dead organ and tissue donation-related knowledge and procedures. In addition, institutional or systematic improvements that can lead to organ donation when deciding on the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment should be considered.     

Knowledge and attitude toward HIV voluntary counseling and testing services among pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic in Sudan

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and the development of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are increasing at an alarming rate especially in the sub-Saharan region. Pregnant women susceptible to HIV and its transmission to the fetus provide a unique opportunity for implementing preventive strategy against HIV infection of newborn babies. During the period of August-December 2005 a cross-sectional study was conducted at the Fath-Elrahman Elbashir antenatal clinic, Khartoum Teaching Hospital, to investigate pregnant women's basic knowledge and attitude toward HIV and mother to child transmission as well as voluntary counseling and testing. Pre-tested structured questionnaires were given to antenatal attendants by professional counselors. Their basic socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics were obtained. Respondents' knowledge about HIV and mother to child transmission were tested. In addition, their willingness toward HIV testing was also reported. Out of the 1,005 women investigated, 79% had basic knowledge about HIV. Those who were resident in Khartoum and whose age was > or =26.1 years and their education level was secondary and above were found to be more knowledgeable about HIV. More than half of respondents were aware of mother to child transmission. Older (> or =26.1 years), educated, and working mothers were found to be more knowledgeable about mother to child transmission. Willingness to undergo the test was demonstrated in 72.8% of respondents. However, only 30.3% had the test done. Older women, primigravidae, and Muslims have higher acceptance of voluntary counseling and testing. There is a need to extend the voluntary counseling and testing program in all antenatal clinics. In addition, there is a need to increase the level of education and raise health awareness about HIV and mother to child transmission.     

ATTITUDE TOWARDS MENTAL ILLNESS IN SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA: THE CONTRADICTIONS OF A COMMUNITARIAN CULTURE

The effect of mental illness stigma can be greater in the developing world where sufferers are additionally affected by destitution. This study investigated the attitudes of the Igbo people of Southeastern Nigeria toward mental illness to establish the extent and determinants of negative attitudes. Multistage sampling was used to select participants (n = 602), to whom questionnaires were administered. More than half of all the demographic groups demonstrated authoritarian attitude and primary social distance. A third of the sample equally endorsed social restrictiveness, anticommunity care, and secondary social distance. Low education, male gender, older age, Protestant denomination, and not being familiar with people with mental illness predicted more negative attitudes. Culture, stereotypes, causal explanations, and poor mental health knowledge were the leading mediators of negative attitudes. The determinant role of culture and demographic variables in the stigma dynamics indicate that contextualized and targeted interventions could be more effective than general campaigns.     

Perceptions of acquired immune deficiency syndrome by children and their parents.

Assessed perceptions of acquired immune deficiency syndrome in school-aged children and their parents. Using a hierarchical regression analysis, parent attitudes toward AIDS were found to be significant predictors of a child's attitudes toward persons with AIDS, but were not significant predictors of a child's knowledge of AIDS. The child's own knowledge level served as a significant predictor of the child's attitudes and vice versa.     

Medical students' attitudes toward AIDS, homosexual, and intravenous drug-abusing patients: a re-evaluation in New York City

After completing their clinical rotations, 69% of the third-year medical school class at Columbia University responded to a survey based on one originally used by Kelly et al. at the University of Mississippi, to determine their attitudes toward acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, homosexual men, and intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs). Results of this study were compared to the findings of Kelly et al. to determine how, if at all, geographic and environmental exposures affected student attitudes. Unlike the University of Mississippi students, who exhibited a highly negative and prejudiced view of homosexuals and patients with AIDS, Columbia students displayed no evidence of negative attitude toward homosexuals and a much less harsh judgment of AIDS patients. They, however, did have dramatically negative attitudes toward IVDAs; 78.4% stated that they strongly disliked and would avoid this group of patients. There is a complex multi-variable environmental effect on students' attitudes during medical school. It is not possible to generalize attitudes from one medical school to another. The necessity of incorporating activities into student education to evaluate and to reduce prejudice is discussed.     

Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of healthcare providers for botanical and dietary supplement use for postmenopausal health

OBJECTIVE: To identify the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of health care providers (physicians and nurses) regarding the use of botanical dietary supplements (BDS) for peri- and postmenopausal women. DESIGN: Health care providers (physicians and nurse practitioners/nurse midwives) completed a questionnaire to assess knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding botanical dietary supplement use for peri- and postmenopausal women. A total of 62 providers were included in the final analysis. RESULTS: Two thirds of providers reported that they had limited or no knowledge about botanical dietary supplements. By far, the majority of providers had no formal training nor had they studied these supplements on their own. Although knowledge was limited, a majority of providers wanted additional training predominantly because of growing patient awareness and use and were open to using these therapies for their patients either in combination with conventional Western medicine or as the only support for relief of peri- and postmenopausal symptoms. However, only 25% of providers regularly asked their peri- and postmenopausal patients about use of botanical dietary supplements. Providers who had practiced longer (> or =11 y) were more likely to be knowledgeable about dietary supplements and to have studied on their own (P < 0.01), to believe that botanicals are part of evidence-based medicine (P < 0.05), and to have talked to their patients (P < 0.05) about use of these therapies. Increased knowledge also appeared to predict a more positive attitude on the part of providers toward their patients who use BDS (P < 0.001) as well as more proactive behavior related to referring and recommending these therapies as treatment (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that knowledge about botanical therapies among health care providers caring for peri- and postmenopausal women is quite low, but they are open to learning more about these modalities and using them for treatment, if appropriate. Our results suggest that increased years in practice is related to increased knowledge, more positive attitudes, and more proactive behaviors related to botanical dietary supplements.     

Erciyes University students' knowledge about AIDS: differences between students of natural and social science

The authors' goal in this study was to assess differences in knowledge about AIDS between students of natural science (NS) and social science (SS). The authors surveyed 542 students at Erciyes University in Kayseri, Turkey, regarding their knowledge of AIDS. Some differences in knowledge about AIDS (eg, regarding the virus that causes AIDS, the diagnostic test, risk factors) existed between NS and SS students. NS students were more knowledgeable about AIDS than were SS students.     

An analysis of "silence" in public opinion about public works

An Internet survey targeting at from 200 to 500 samples in every prefecture in Japan (n=15,316) was conducted in order to analyze the expression of attitudes or silence regarding public works. The data indicated those who had different attitudes from the perceived public attitude were likely to express their attitudes, those whose attitude was neutral were not likely to express it, and those with positive attitudes were likely to express more than those with negative attitudes. The tendency that those with positive attitudes were more likely to express them than those with negative attitudes decreased as the residential population increased. Those with positive attitudes in Tokyo kept "silence" regarding their attitudes, similar to those with neutral attitudes. Analysis regarding the attitudes in different prefectures indicated that attitudes toward public works were positively related to the yearly public stake in the prefecture.     

Public knowledge and attitudes regarding organ and tissue donation: an analysis of the northwest Ohio community

Residents of Ohio, a midwestern state of the United States, were surveyed to determine their knowledge and attitudes toward organ and tissue donation. Sources of information on donation and the role of health care providers were also explored. One thousand participants were randomly selected from northwest Ohio to receive a survey distributed by mail. A total of 383 valid questionnaires were obtained. Respondents were knowledgeable about donation, with a mean correct knowledge score of 86%. However, four questions were answered incorrectly by nearly 25% or more of participants, indicating deficits in the community's knowledge. Over 96% of respondents had favorable attitudes toward donation. Both knowledge and attitudes were positively associated with willingness as well as commitment to donate. Health care providers were infrequently reported as sources of information on donation, yet nearly 60% would like their provider to discuss donation. Misconceptions represent potential barriers to donation. Therefore, public education should focus on the knowledge areas that show deficits. Results of the present study suggest that health care providers can play a critical role in educating patients about donation.     

Adjustment to chronic arthritis of childhood: the roles of illness-related stress and attitude toward illness

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship of psychosocial stress and attitude toward illness to psychological adjustment among youth with chronic arthritis. METHODS: Seventy-five youths with chronic arthritis aged 8-18 years were administered a semi-structured interview assessing illness-related and nonillness-related stressors in important life domains. Children also completed measures of attitude toward illness, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. Parents completed a measure of child psychosocial adjustment. RESULTS: Higher levels of illness-related and nonillness-related stress were associated with higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms and parent-reported adjustment problems, while a more positive attitude toward illness was associated with lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Attitude toward illness moderated the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest the importance of assessing life stress and attitude toward illness among youth with arthritis and developing interventions to help children cope with arthritis-related stressors and promote a more positive attitude toward illness.     

THE EFFECTS OF TV AND FILM EXPOSURE ON KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AND ATTITUDES TOWARD MENTAL DISORDERS

Two empirical studies examined whether the portrayal of mental disorders on television and in films has an effect on people's knowledge about and attitudes toward the mentally ill. Study 1 found that the more often people watched television, the poorer their knowledge was about schizophrenia and obsessive‐compulsive disorder. This finding did not apply to major depression. Study 2 demonstrated that people who watched a documentary film acquired more knowledge about schizophrenia than people who watched a fictional film, despite identical information in both films. Moreover, people who watched a fictional film had more negative emotional reactions (rejecting and unpleasant feelings) toward schizophrenia patients.     

Knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of homeless African-American adolescents: implications for HIV/AIDS prevention

The purpose of this pilot study was to describe the knowledge of HIV/AIDS, attitudes about condom use, and the sexual behavior of African-American adolescents who reside in a children's emergency homeless shelter. The Attitudes Toward Condom Usage Questionnaire, the AIDS Knowledge and Attitude Survey, and a Perceived Risk of HIV/AIDS Scale were modified and administered to 37 African-American male and female adolescents who reside in an emergency shelter. HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes about condoms among these respondents were comparable to those of other adolescents described in the literature in that there was a strong knowledge of HIV/AIDS, although sexual behavior and attitudes toward condoms were not consistent with this knowledge. Significant differences between male and female respondents were only found on three items of the Attitudes Toward Condom Usage Questionnaire and on the Perceived Risk of HIV/AIDS Scale at the 0.05 level. The knowledge, attitudes, and sexual behavior of homeless, African-American adolescents should be examined to develop and implement appropriate programs to address the specific needs of this population. Further research should focus on this population and expand on this preliminary data.     

Pediatrics residents' attitudes about insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and children with diabetes

Nationwide, pediatricians provide a substantial portion of the health care of children with diabetes. Their beliefs and attitudes about diabetes and children with the illness have an important influence on their treatment decisions. The attitudes and beliefs of a 1988 sample of pediatrics residents were compared with data from a 1987 national survey of practicing pediatricians' beliefs and attitudes about children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and about the disease itself. Pediatrics residents in their second and third years of training were considerably more negative about diabetes and diabetic children than were either the members of the national sample of practicing pediatricians or the residents' first-year colleagues.