SARS infection control in Taiwan: investigation of nurses' professional obligation.
This exploratory, cross-sectional, quantitative study investigated the relationship among hospital nurses' willingness to provide care for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients, their attitudes toward SARS infection control measures, and nurses' health status and demographic characteristics. This project was conducted from May 6 to 12, 2003. A total of 126 nurses working in hospitals participated in this study. A conceptual model was developed, and the author designed a questionnaire to test this model. The developed model explained 32% of the variance in nurses' willingness to provide care for SARS patients. Nurses' levels of agreement with general SARS infection control measures, self-treatment of relief of fever and cough, necessity to close Hoping and Jenchi hospitals, nurses' physical health status, and holding a bachelor's degree were statistically significant predictors of nurses' willingness to care for SARS patients. Based on these findings, suggestions and study limitations are discussed.
Tzeng
Huey-Ming
HM
Department of Nursing, I-Shou University, 1, Section 1, Hsueh-Cheng Road, Ta-Hsu Hsiang, Kaohsiung County 815, Taiwan, ROC. tzeng_hueyming@yahoo.com
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009726:Nurses; D011481:Protective Clothing; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013624:Taiwan