The effect of professional education on the knowledge and attitudes of physical therapist and occupational therapist students about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Anxiety and fear about caring for people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are concerns expressed by students in health care professions. This study was designed to evaluate the influence of education offered to physical therapist (PT) and occupational therapist (OT) students on their knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to provide services to people with AIDS.


METHODS
Twenty-six undergraduate PT students and 23 undergraduate OT students completed a questionnaire at the beginning of their professional education program, following a 5-hour AIDS education seminar, and shortly before their graduation. The questionnaire consisted of 3 subscales designed to evaluate the respondents' knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to treat people with AIDS.


RESULTS
At the time of graduation, the students in both disciplines showed improvement in knowledge about AIDS (14.3% for PT students and 13.8% for OT students) and more positive attitudes toward people with AIDS (7.4% for PT students and 5% for OT students). In both disciplines, the students' willingness to provide services for people with AIDS remained unchanged following the AIDS education seminar and at the end of the professional education program.


CONCLUSIONS
The professional education offered to the cohort of students in this study appeared to be beneficial in improving their knowledge and attitudes toward people with AIDS, but it did not affect their willingness to work with this patient group.
Physical Therapy Program, College of Health-Related Professions, State University of New York Health Science Center, Brooklyn 11203, USA. jbalogun@netmail.hscbklyn.edu
J A
JA
Balogun
M T
MT
Kaplan
T M
TM
Miller
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000193:education*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000193:education*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016079:Refusal to Treat; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires