title: Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour to examine enrolled nursing students' intention to care for patients with alcohol dependence: A survey study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nurses are often the first point of contact for patients hospitalized due to alcohol-related causes. Alcohol dependence is highly stigmatized and as a result healthcare professionals often have low behavioural intentions, meaning low willingness to care for these patients. This can have a direct influence on quality of care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to explore enrolled nursing students' intention to care for patients with alcohol dependence and the antecedents, preliminary factors, that predict this within the Theory of Planned Behaviour; specifically attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy and controllability.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a cross-sectional survey using the Theory of Planned Behaviour.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two Technical and Further Education South Australia campuses across metropolitan Adelaide.
  
  
  METHODS
  n=86 enrolled nursing students completed the survey (62% response rate).
  
  
  METHODS
  Enrolled nursing students' intention, attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy and controllability were measured using a Theory of Planned Behaviour Questionnaire. The Short Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire investigated attitudes in more detail and a short knowledge scale assessed alcohol-related knowledge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjective norms and attitudes had a significant, positive effect on intention to care within the final model, accounting for 22.6% of the variance, F2,83=12.12, p<0.001. Subjective norms were the strongest predictor. External factors such as age, previous alcohol training and alcohol-related knowledge held direct paths to antecedents of intention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjective norms were the strongest predictor of intention to care for patients with alcohol dependence, followed by attitudes. The study provides an understanding of enrolled nursing students' intention to care for alcohol dependent patients. These findings can assist in developing tailored alcohol training for students, to increase attitudes and foster behavioural change, in order to improve the quality of care for these patients.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia. Electronic address: talay007@mymail.unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Anna-Lisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia. Electronic address: jill.dorrian@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jillian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dorrian
authors.affiliation: Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders University, c/o Public Health, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide SA 5001, Australia. Electronic address: janine.chapman@flinders.edu.au.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chapman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000451:nursing*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013021:South Australia; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol dependence; Attitudes; Behavioural intention; Enrolled nursing students; Patient care; Subjective norms; Theory of Planned Behaviour