Relationship between knowledge and attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS among dental school employees and students.
OBJECTIVE
Employees and students at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo responded to a comprehensive questionnaire regarding knowledge and attitudes towards human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The intention of the present study was to describe possible relationships between the two.


METHODS
The questionnaire consisted of 39 closed questions. The response rate was 75% (436/584). The answers were used to construct additive indices for knowledge and attitudes.


RESULTS
The knowledge index reflected the number of correct answers concerning risk groups and transmission. A factor analysis revealed three dimensions of attitudes ('legal', 'personal risk', and 'personal consequences'), which were analysed separately against knowledge. Correlation analyses (Spearman r) of all respondents together (n = 436) revealed a weak, but statistically significant, positive correlation between knowledge and the 'legal' and 'personal risk' dimension of attitudes (r = 0.16, P < 0.01; r = 0.21, P < 0.001). The 'personal consequence' dimension was not significantly correlated with knowledge (r = 0.06, P > 0.05). The strongest correlation was found between knowledge and the 'legal' dimension (r = 0.43, P < 0.001), and knowledge and the 'personal risk' dimension (r = 0.41, P < 0.002) amongst fourth year students. No particular group of employees or students displayed a significant correlation between knowledge and the 'personal consequence' dimension of attitudes.


CONCLUSIONS
Three dimensions on attitudes concerning patients with HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome were identified amongst the respondents. A weak correlation between knowledge and two of the attitudes might indicate that knowledge plays a role in this respect.
Börsum
K M
KM
Department of Periodontology, Dental Faculty, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. karinbo@online.no
Gjermo
P E
PE
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000635:transmission; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004497:Education, Dental; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012575:Schools, Dental; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D000078329:Workforce