HIV/AIDS: knowledge and attitudes of accident and emergency healthcare professionals

The knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals in accident and emergency departments in Australia are poorly understood. The authors assessed knowledge of and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and homophobia were assessed in a convenience sample of 111 healthcare professionals in three New South Wales teaching hospitals. Results indicated that respondents with low knowledge of HIV/AIDS used the media as their major source of education and had higher levels of fear of infection than their colleagues with higher knowledge. The study findings imply that quality health care for people with HIV/AIDS requires programs that provide correct information and address the fear of infection.