Knowledge and attitudes about AIDS among Canadian nursing students: educational implications

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) presents unique challenges for healthcare providers.
• Understanding nursing students' and faculty's knowledge and attitudes is crucial for effective patient care.
• Previous research by Lawrence and Lawrence (1989) provides a foundation for this study.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess knowledge and attitudes regarding AIDS among Canadian nursing students and faculty.
• To explore the relationships between knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to care for AIDS patients.
• To identify factors influencing attitudes toward AIDS care.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive-correlational design was employed.
• 166 participants, including four levels of nursing students and faculty, completed the AIDS Assess Test.
• Pearson's r correlation was used to analyze relationships.

Main Results:

• Knowledge scores on AIDS increased with progression through the nursing program; faculty achieved the highest scores.
• Attitude scores were generally low, indicating a need for further education and values clarification.
• Significant positive correlations were found between AIDS knowledge and attitude scores for the overall sample and specific student groups.

Conclusions:

• Educational interventions should focus on enhancing both knowledge and attitudes towards caring for individuals with AIDS.
• Values clarification is essential to address potential biases influencing care.
• Further learning experiences are recommended to equip nursing students with the necessary knowledge and attitudinal support for AIDS patient care.