Measuring the stress associated with caring for clients with HIV/AIDS

The AIDS-stress scale (Pleck et al., 1988) provides measures of the sources of stress faced by health care workers caring for people with AIDS. The aim of the study was to consider the utility of the scale as a means of identifying groups of health care workers who would benefit from intervention. Data were collected from a sample of Scottish health care workers (n = 140), all with known contact with clients with HIV or AIDS within the year prior to data collection. Three factors were derived from the AIDS-stress scale: 'lack of knowledge', 'discomfort' and 'work load'. Each showed a different pattern of association with occupational, training and attitudinal measures. The factor scores had some degree of concurrent validity and were not, in the main, associated with the desire to give socially desirable responses. The results were discussed in relation to appropriate interventions.