title: [HIV/AIDS: an exploration of the knowledge, attitude, infection risk perceptions, and willingness to care of nurses].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of people infected with HIV/AIDS continues to increase across the world. The awareness of HIV/AIDS and attitudes toward this disease among nurses and their willingness to care for those infected directly impacts upon the quality of HIV/AIDS-patient care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study explores the knowledge, attitudes, infection-risk perceptions, and willingness to care for HIV/AIDS patients among nurses and the correlations among these variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used a descriptive, correlational design. Scales on HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, perceived risk of infection, and willingness to care were used to collect data from 219 nurses who attended the course series on HIV/AIDS held by the Nurses AIDS Prevention Foundation in 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean score for HIV/AIDS knowledge was 79.6%, with knowledge related to disease transmission pathways earning the highest score and knowledge related to HIV/AIDS protective measures earning the lowest. Participating nurses with higher knowledge scores held a more positive attitude toward HIV/AIDS (p < .001), a lower perceived risk of HIV/AIDS infection (p < .001), and a higher willingness to care for HIV/AIDS-positive patients (p = .001). In addition, those participants who had received in-service HIV/AIDS education training earned higher willingness-to-care scores (p = .046).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study underscore the importance of HIV/AIDS education and may be referenced by health authorities and hospitals for promoting HIV/AIDS education. Further, the results suggest that nurses with a greater knowledge of HIV/AIDS protection and of prophylaxis after occupational exposure are more willing to care for HIV/AIDS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Hsiang-Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Nai-Ying
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Center for Infection Control, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chung-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan, ROC. 820027@ms.kmuh.org.tw.
authors.forename: Ming-Chu
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000451:nursing / Q000635:transmission; D000328:Adult; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000451:nursing* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D012306:Risk
keywords: AIDS; HIV; willingness to care toward AIDS