The effect of education on nurses' perception of AIDS

This paper examines changes in health care workers' perceptions of AIDS accruing from attempts at professional enlightenment. Based upon a 4-month study of 60 registered nurses enrolled in a bachelor of nursing programme, it investigates alterations in knowledge and attitudes resulting from intense instruction on AIDS and AIDS patient care as part of a class in epidemiology. Contrary to what much of the literature has suggested to this point regarding knowledge enhancement and attitudinal transformation, the research reveals a number of positive changes to have 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.