An assessment of the knowledge, attitudes, and risk perceptions of pharmacy students regarding HIV/AIDS.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes, and risk perceptions of University Sains Malaysia final-year pharmacy students regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunity deficiency syndrome (AIDS).


METHODS
A cross-sectional study among pharmacy students. Data were analyzed with Chi-square to find difference at p value < 0.05.


RESULTS
The majority of students (83.07%) responded showing a difference in gender and race. Students showed low willingness (9.2%) to assist patients and low confidence (36.1%) in their education about HIV/AIDS patients. Students recommended HIV testing for health care professionals (69.4%) and patients (75.9%) before surgical procedures. Students knew little about Post Exposure Prophylaxis (18.5%) or about the time for HIV to develop into AIDS (57.4%). About 40% of students were unaware of the inability of antivirals to treat HIV/AIDS. Students had low awareness for opportunistic infections (18.5%), and low agreement on competency to treat and counsel HIV patients (12.9%).


CONCLUSIONS
The study highlighted students' misconceptions, negative attitudes, and risk perceptions towards HIV/AIDS.
Ahmed
Syed Imran
SI
School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. sia194@yahoo.com
Hassali
Mohamed Azmi
MA
Aziz
Noorizan Abdul
NA
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult