Nursing students' attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients in Finland, Estonia and Lithuania

This paper presents baseline data on attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients and homophobic levels among nursing students in three Baltic Sea countries: Finland, Estonia and Lithuania. The aim is to describe and compare nursing students' attitudes in these three countries and to explore how attitudes towards HIV/AIDS correlate with background variables. The total sample comprised 471 nursing students. The respondents demonstrated average attitude scores towards patients with HIV/AIDS and rather positive attitudes towards homosexually oriented patients. Significant country differences were found, with Finnish nursing students showing the most positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients and homosexually oriented patients. Previous experience of HIV/AIDS patients was the single factor with the greatest positive impact on nursing students' attitudes. Nursing students' willingness to provide care for an HIV/AIDS patient was associated with a positive attitude towards these patients. Length of employment experience correlated negatively with general attitude, and older nursing students with more work experience showed a more negative attitude towards homosexual patients. Proper education to achieve a sound knowledge base and good nursing skills promotes a more positive attitude to HIV/AIDS. It is important that nursing students are sensitive and show respect for the patient's human dignity. There is need for greater harmonization of education in the three countries.     

HIV/AIDS—knowledge,attitudes and education of nurses: a review of the research

• ? This paper provides a review of research relating to knowledge, attitudes and education of nurses in relation to HIV/AIDS.
• ? Early studies portrayed nurses (and other health-care workers) as fearful of AIDS, ill-informed, and negative and discriminatory in their attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS. Several major surveys in the UK in the late 1980s produced broadly similar findings and, in the absence of more recent countering evidence, it cannot be assumed that there has been significant improvement.
• ? Research surveys of HIV/AIDS education provision for nurses are also reviewed. A recent survey of UK nursing colleges revealed weaknesses in provision, and a lack of training and confidence among nurse teachers. Although evaluation research has been scarce, some studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of various forms of education on nurses' HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and attitudes, and these are also reviewed.
• ? Although early predictions of a rapidly escalating AIDS epidemic have proved to be exaggerated, at least in developed countries, it is vital that nurses do not become complacent. This review should encourage nurses, irrespective of clinical specialty, to reconsider their own knowledge and attitudes and to press for further HIV/AIDS education if they consider that it is still lacking.

     

HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and beliefs among Nepalese adolescents

AIM: This paper reports an exploration of Nepalese adolescents' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of HIV/AIDS. BACKGROUND: Nepal is confronted with an increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS among adolescents and young adults. A priority of nurses and other health professionals in Nepal is the prevention of the spread of HIV infection. The first step in prevention is assessing the HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional correlational design was carried out in 2003 in a private school in Kathmandu, Nepal. A total of 150 adolescents participated in the study. Two instruments were used: a demographic questionnaire and the Youth Survey, which included questions on knowledge, attitudes and beliefs. FINDINGS: The majority of the adolescents had a moderate level of overall HIV/AIDS knowledge, but lacked knowledge in the areas of mode of transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Approximately 79% thought that AIDS was a big problem and 67% were afraid of getting AIDS. However, only 16.7% reported that they were likely to get AIDS, and 18.7% did not perceive living in Kathmandu as a risk for HIV/AIDS. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study will help policymakers and healthcare professionals develop a culturally sensitive and needs specific educational programme for urban Nepalese adolescents. The findings may also have lessons for public health and school nurses working in similar contexts. Nurses, and more specifically public health nurses in Nepal, need to play an active role in the development and implementation of educational programs on HIV/AIDS. Research needs to be done in rural as well as urban areas of Nepal on adolescents' HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and beliefs.     

Educational intervention with international nurses and changes in knowledge, attitudes and willingness to provide care to patients with HIV/AIDS

This paper reports the findings of a study which examines the relationship between the use of an educational intervention with nurses from several Asian countries and changes in knowledge, attitudes and willingness to care for patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). A pre-test and post-test questionnaire was used to collect the data. The results indicate, that whilst there was an improvement in knowledge following the educational intervention, there is a need for further improvement in the knowledge levels of the nurses. The method of contracting the virus is less influential in shaping students' attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS. Fear of contagion is evident; this increases when more invasive clinical procedures are being carried out. What is also evident is that multiple levels of infection control protocols are used with patients. Fear of contagion is also apparent in the participants' willingness to work with colleagues and patients with HIV/AIDS. While the participants stated that they were more willing to work with colleagues and patients with HIV/AIDS following the educational intervention, they said that they would continue to take additional precautions for fear of contracting HIV in the workplace. The conclusion emphasizes that it is important for education about HIV/AIDS to be incorporated within current undergraduate and in-service programmes.     

HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceptions of rural nurses in South Africa

Title. HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceptions of rural nurses in South Africa. Aim. This paper is a report of a study exploring HIV/AIDS‐related knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceptions of nurses in the largely black and rural Limpopo Province of South Africa. Background. Studies of HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and practices among healthcare workers in developing countries have shown gaps in knowledge and fear of contagion, coupled with ambivalent attitudes in caring for patients with HIV/AIDS and inconsistent universal precautions adherence. Method. A cross‐sectional study of a random sample of primary health care (PHC) (n = 71) and hospital nurses (n = 69) was carried out in 2005, using a questionnaire, focus groups and in‐depth interviews. Findings. Hospital nurses reported a higher frequency of care for patients with HIV/AIDS (P < 0·05), but less HIV/AIDS training when compared to PHC nurses (P < 0·001). HIV/AIDS knowledge was moderately adequate and associated with professional rank, frequency of care and training (P < 0·001). Attitudes towards patients with HIV/AIDS were mainly positive and were statistically significantly correlated with HIV/AIDS knowledge (P < 0·01) and training (P < 0·05). Three out of four nurses reported that they practised universal precautions (76·1%), but fear of occupational HIV transmission and lack of injection safety was found. Seven in 10 nurses reported previous needlestick injuries, but postexposure prophylaxis was not available in all healthcare facilities. Participants reported a higher workload because of HIV/AIDS, lack of training impacting negatively on their work, and stigma and shared confidentiality affecting them emotionally. Conclusion. There is a need for accelerated HIV/AIDS training of rural nurses and for wider implementation of universal precautions and postexposure prophylaxis availability in public health facilities in southern Africa.     

护理人员HIV／AIDS知识、态度、技能的干预研究

目的探讨对护理人员系统进行艾滋病相关知识、态度、技能等培训后,护理人员对HIV/AIDS的认知、态度及实际技能的改变.方法采用便利抽样的方法,选择三级甲等医院800名护理人员进行培训,进行基线和终期及每期培训前后问卷调查.结果培训后护理人员有关艾滋病知识、操作技能与培训前有统计学差异(P＜0.01),而护理人员对艾滋病态度与培训前无显著差异(P＞0.01).结论对护理人员进行艾滋病相关知识和技能的培训是必要的.     

军队官兵艾滋病认知情况调查

目的了解军队官兵对艾滋病的认知水平和态度,为军队开展艾滋病健康教育提供依据。方法采用方便抽样的方法对1069名官兵进行问卷调查。结果①官兵对艾滋病一般知识、传播途径等回答正确率较高,军官高于士兵,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.01)。②84.67%的军官、64.91%的士兵表示同情、关心艾滋病病人。③多数官兵对国家相关艾滋病的政策缺乏了解。结论军队官兵对艾滋病知识及国家相关政策了解不够,艾滋病健康教育工作应增加宣教的范围及深度,并强调针对性和实用性。     

The attitudes, concerns, gloving practices and knowledge of nurses in a Taiwanese hospital regarding AIDS and HIV

Many studies have documented nurses' attitudes and concerns regarding AIDS/HIV, but little is known about Taiwanese nurses. We documented attitudes, concerns, gloving practices and practical AIDS/HIV knowledge of 1090 nurses from one metropolitan hospital in Changhua City, Taiwan. The response rate was 80.9%. Both HIV and hepatitis contraction in the workplace was nurses' main concern. Two hundred and ten nurses (19.3%) were seriously considering leaving nursing because of fear of contracting AIDS/HIV. Virtually all nurses considered it their right to be informed of the presence of HIV-positive patients in their direct work area and many believed that HIV testing of patients should be mandatory. Practical AIDS/HIV knowledge was deficient. These Taiwanese nurses have concerns and fears that might be related to deficiencies in practical AIDS/HIV knowledge. Continuous educational programmes are recommended to alleviate these nurses' attitudes and concerns regarding AIDS/HIV.     

护士艾滋病知识培训的研究现状

自从1981年美国报告了首例艾滋病（acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,AIDS）临床病例以来,艾滋病目前已经成为一个严重的公共卫生问题和社会问题。护士在临床实践中不仅是人类免疫缺陷病毒（humanimmunodeficiencyvirus,HIV）感染者和AIDS患者的护理者,也是群众了解HIV／AIDS相关知识的教育者,因此,     

HIV/AIDS Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Preventive Behavior of Pregnant Korean Women

Objective :To assess HIV-AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and preventive behavior of pregnant Korean women before designing patient and public education programs.
Design: Pre-experimental cross-sectional survey.
Population, Sample, Setting, Years: Convenience sample of 409 women at six prenatal clinics in Seoul, Korea, in 1993.
Outcome Measures: HIV-AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and preventive behavior.
Methods: Self-administered questionnaires.
Findings: The women described high levels of knowledge about HIV and AIDS risk factors but less knowledge about transmission of the virus, as well as attitudes of rejection toward unrelated people with HIV/AIDS; 16% provided condoms for their husband's use in extramarital sex, the primary risk behavior.
Conclusions: Korean women are at risk for heterosexual transmission of HIV despite knowledge of risk factors.
Clinical Implications: Korean education programs for women should focus on modes of heterosexual transmission, care of individuals with HIV or AIDS, self-assessment of HIV-AIDS risk, and self protection.     

Systematized HIV/AIDS education for student nurses at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria: impact on knowledge, attitudes and compliance with universal precautions

This paper reports the findings of a study which examines changes in a group of Bachelor of Science (BSc) nursing students' perceptions, knowledge of and attitudes towards human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), accruing from attempts at a systematized education for the cohort. Based upon a 3-month study of 141 registered nurses enrolled in a BSc nursing programme at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, it investigates alterations in knowledge and attitudes resulting from intense instruction on HIV/AIDS, AIDS patient care, and compliance with universal precautions. With regard to knowledge enhancement and attitudinal transformation, the research reveals that a number of positive changes occurred over the period of the study. Not only were the nurses better informed about AIDS than previously, but their attitudes towards the disease and patient care had become considerably more liberal, as well as their disposition to comply with universal precautions. The conclusion emphasizes that it is very important for education about HIV/AIDS to be incorporated within current undergraduate and in-service training programmes for Nigerian nurses.     

Nurses' knowledge,attitudes and beliefs regarding substance use: a questionnaire survey

Abstract A questionnaire on nurses' knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practises regarding substance use was distributed to 302 nurses in Victoria. One hundred and thirty-four returned the questionnaire, giving an overall response rate of 44.3%. The survey results showed that although knowledge and skill gaps exist in assessment and management of alcohol and drug problems, overall knowledge levels were adequate. Although positive attitudes towards substance use were expressed, specific educational programs to enhance nurses' skills in assessment and management of substance-related disorders may be beneficial.     

基层护理人员对HIV/AIDS认识的调查分析

目的:为了解基层护理人员对HIV/AIDS的认识和接受态度,以便对护理人员实施有的放矢的继续教育。方法:2006年3月分层随机抽取田东县7所医院,向在职护士发放调查问卷150份,进行流行病学现况研究。结果:73.3%以上的护士对HIV/AIDS的基本知识掌握较好,但只有45.0%的护士能对病人作全程护理,其知识掌握与接受程度不成正比(P<0.05),特别是对自己患病态度6.7%的人采取自杀,说明护士对HIV/AIDS的恐惧心理严重。结论:医疗卫生部门应加强对基层护理人员关于HIV/AIDS知识的培训,加大宣传力度,提高护士思想认识,规范操作规程,尽可能减少医源性感染机会,同时政府部门应制定相应的政策以减轻护士的心理负担,从而达到“战胜艾滋”这一人类共同的目标。