title: Russian nursing students' knowledge level and attitudes in the context of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - a descriptive study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to describe the knowledge of Russian nursing students regarding HIV and Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and their attitudes towards caring for people/patients living with HIV or AIDS (PLWHA - People Living With HIV/AIDS) and their possible homophobic attitudes. The HIV epidemic in Russia is substantial and increasing rapidly. Hence this study provides important new information regarding this phenomenon.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data was collected by questionnaire from students in three nursing schools (n = 102, response rate 95.3%). The data was analyzed using PASW Statistics version 18. For computing the level of the students' AIDS knowledge, all correct answers were recorded as equal to (1), while all incorrect and "Don't know" answers were recorded as equal to (0). Each respondent's scores were totaled and individual scores were analyzed using regression analysis. The effect of demographic variables on the average scores of attitudes was also subjected to regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, students' knowledge level regarding HIV and AIDS was moderate (range 5-26). Of a maximum score of 33, the mean of correct answers was 19.8 (SD = 3.70). Nursing students' attitudes were quite negative and they also demonstrated homophobic attitudes. The mean scale score for nursing students' general attitude was 2.75, and for homophobic attitudes it was 3.3 (min = 1, max = 5). Only the background factor of gender correlated with the homophobic level demonstrated (p = .05, β = -.67). Nursing students' overall willingness to provide care for PLWHA was associated with their attitudes (p = .003, β = -.534).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given that the HIV epidemic in Russia is both substantial and increasing, it is essential to improve HIV nursing education to provide sufficient and up-to-date information about HIV and also to prepare nursing students for caring for PLWHA. In doing so, this may help to address both the deficits in student knowledge, and also modify their attitude towards PLWHA.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Nursing Science, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Tarja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suominen
authors.affiliation: Lahti Polytechnic, Lahti, Finland.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laakkonen
authors.affiliation: Center for Preventive Medicine, Pavlov State Medical University, 6/8 Lev Tolstoy St., 197089 St. Petersburg, Russia.
authors.forename: Dmitry
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lioznov
authors.affiliation: Department of Higher Nursing Education, Pavlov State Medical University, 6/8 Lev Tolstoy St., 197089 St. Petersburg, Russia.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polukova
authors.affiliation: Center for Chronic Viral Infections Research, Pavlov State Medical University, 6/8 Lev Tolstoy St., 197089 St. Petersburg, Russia.
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nikolaenko
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Liudmila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lipiäinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science and Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Maritta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Välimäki
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kylmä
keywords: Attitudes; Care; HIV; Knowledge; Nursing student; PLWHA; Russia