title: Epidemiological study on knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of health care workers with respect to HIV infection.
abstract: To analyse knowledge, perception of risk, attitudes and behaviour towards HIV infection among health workers in two hospitals in the North-East of Italy, we sent all health care workers who were working in direct contact with patients an anonymous self-administered questionnaire covering personal and occupational data, perception and knowledge of risk, behaviour in routine activities, attitudes towards and care of HIV patients. The response rate was 70.06%. The perception of the risk of acquiring HIV infection was influenced by occupational qualification, by work unit and by having cared for a HIV-positive patient. Scientific knowledge about transmissibility of HIV infection was poor and 11.3% of the staff did not know the Universal Precautions. 28.3% behaved correctly in recapping needles, but with patients considered not at risk 29.9% did not use any protection in drawing venous blood. A significant portion of staff showed low willingness to care for HIV-positive patients. We found a high mean perception of the risk of contracting HIV infection through occupational exposure; health workers overestimated the specific risk and wrong behavioural attitudes persisted. To conclude, more attention should be paid to educational programs for health workers.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, University of Udine.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brusaferro
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martina
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Puzzolante
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gasparini
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires