Community health nurses' HIV care behavior

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Public Health
• Psychology

Background:

• Community health nurses play a vital role in patient care.
• Understanding nurses' perspectives on caring for patients with HIV is crucial for effective healthcare delivery.
• The Theory of Reasoned Action provides a framework for examining behavioral intentions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate community health nurses' attitudes, subjective norms, and intentions regarding the care of patients who are HIV positive.
• To identify factors influencing nurses' willingness to care for individuals with HIV.
• To apply the Theory of Reasoned Action to understand these intentions.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative study involving 145 community health nurses.
• Utilized a questionnaire based on Ajzen and Fishbein's (1980) guidelines for the Theory of Reasoned Action.
• Incorporated qualitative data to explore persistent concerns.

Main Results:

• Nurses' attitudes and subjective norms significantly predicted their intentions to care for HIV-positive patients (R2 = .15).
• Personal beliefs about consequences for self, family, and friends, rather than job-related consequences, differentiated between nurses willing and unwilling to provide care.
• Qualitative data revealed ongoing concerns about occupational risk for contracting AIDS.

Conclusions:

• Educational interventions should address nurses' beliefs and attitudes toward HIV care, including transmission, prevention, and emotional responses.
• Nurse educators should focus on exploring feelings and intentions related to HIV.
• Further research is recommended to test interventions aimed at modifying nurses' attitudes and beliefs about HIV disease.