Nursing students' attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients in Finland, Estonia and Lithuania.
This paper presents baseline data on attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients and homophobic levels among nursing students in three Baltic Sea countries: Finland, Estonia and Lithuania. The aim is to describe and compare nursing students' attitudes in these three countries and to explore how attitudes towards HIV/AIDS correlate with background variables. The total sample comprised 471 nursing students. The respondents demonstrated average attitude scores towards patients with HIV/AIDS and rather positive attitudes towards homosexually oriented patients. Significant country differences were found, with Finnish nursing students showing the most positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients and homosexually oriented patients. Previous experience of HIV/AIDS patients was the single factor with the greatest positive impact on nursing students' attitudes. Nursing students' willingness to provide care for an HIV/AIDS patient was associated with a positive attitude towards these patients. Length of employment experience correlated negatively with general attitude, and older nursing students with more work experience showed a more negative attitude towards homosexual patients. Proper education to achieve a sound knowledge base and good nursing skills promotes a more positive attitude to HIV/AIDS. It is important that nursing students are sensitive and show respect for the patient's human dignity. There is need for greater harmonization of education in the three countries.
Suominen
Tarja
T
Department of Nursing Science, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. tarja.suominen@uta.fi
Koponen
Niina
N
Staniuliene
Vida
V
Istomina
Natalja
N
Aro
Ilme
I
Kisper-Hint
Ima-Riina
IR
Vänskä
Maj-Lis
ML
Välimäki
Maritta
M
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D004957:Estonia; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D015658:HIV Infections; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania; D008297:Male; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult