title: Knowledge and attitudes of health care workers about AIDS and HIV infection before and after distribution of an educational booklet.
abstract: Hospital workers (509) in a health authority were surveyed, and asked if they were in contact with HIV positive or AIDS patients; about their perception of risk; of their knowledge about and attitudes towards HIV and AIDS problems at work; and their desire for more information about AIDS and HIV. Overall scores for level of knowledge and attitudes were calculated; clinical workers scored better than non-clinical workers. Following the first survey, an information booklet was distributed to all health authority staff and after distribution, 232 staff were surveyed again. In this group (the follow-up group), there was a reduction in perceived risk, an improvement in the level of knowledge and in attitudes, and a reduction in the desire for further information. The group who initially had the least level of knowledge and most unfavourable attitudes (non-clinical workers) were the group who improved most.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: McKinnon
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Insall
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Gooch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cockcroft
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital