Attitudes of nurses caring for HIV/AIDS patients.
BACKGROUND
HIV/AIDS remains in epidemic proportions worldwide. The incidence of HIV/AIDS among infants, children, adolescents, and women has risen rapidly, and nurses cannot avoid HIV/AIDS patients. Because HIV/AIDS is associated with certain risk groups that have historically been subjects of discrimination, it has a stigma which contributes to the attitudes developed by nurses.


METHODS
To examine the attitudes of nurses in a southern community hospital, an AIDS Attitude Scale (AAS) survey was administered to all registered nurses (RNs) in staff positions. The AAS, a six-point Likert scale, examines avoidance and empathy attitudes. The survey was voluntary and anonymous.


RESULTS
Sixty-eight percent (n = 175) of RNs responded to the survey. The overall mean score for avoidance was 2.37 and for empathy was 5.19.


CONCLUSIONS
The general score of 2.82 indicated an overall empathetic attitude toward HIV/AIDS patients.
Gillispie
L C
LC
Huntington Internal Medicine Group, West Virginia, USA.
Davis
B A
BA
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D004645:Empathy; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000451:nursing*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D011287:Prejudice; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires