title: Effects of drug relief hospital-based AIDS educational methods on drug users.
abstract: The objective of this study is to explore a potentially effective training method for the hospital professionals to educate drug users and to enhance their knowledge of HIV infection. One hundred and sixty one subjects, who came from 13 different provinces and were admitted in a drug relief hospital in Beijing, were recruited for this study. The average age of these subjects was 35.21 +/- 6.24 year old. The average numbers of years for drug addiction were 7 years, and the average numbers of drug relief treatment received in the past was 5.5 times. The level of AIDS knowledge of these subjects, including pathogenic factors, source of infection, route of transmission and preventive measures, were evaluated before and after receiving the AIDS educational training to these drug users. Our results showed that there was a statistically significant increase (P<0.01) in the knowledge of HIV infection and prevention among these subjects. Positive attitude and behavioral tendencies toward HIV prevention were also improved. Therefore, it is imperative for the medical professionals to incorporate AIDS education into drug relief treatment to achieve the maximum effect on the knowledge of AIDS and improvement of positive attitudes and behaviors toward HIV prevention among drug users.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Xiang Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shun Zhen
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Qiao Qin
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Sen Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yan Xia
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Teng
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016485:Needle Sharing; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders