AIDS-related stigma and homophobia: implications for nursing education

Healthcare workers' attitudes about acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are influenced by two major types of fears: AIDS-related stigma refers to irrational fears about contracting the virus and about death and dying issues, whereas homophobia refers to irrational fears or negative attitudes about same-sex sexual behaviors or relationships. In this study, open-ended responses of nursing students to a videotape about an AIDS hospice were examined for the prevalence of these two types of fears. Most of the negative themes could be classified as AIDS-related stigma or homophobia. Implications for nursing education are discussed.