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Fear of HIV Infection and Impact of Training on the Attitudes of Surgical and Emergency Nurses Toward Inpatient HIV Testing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Maria Gańczak  and
Peter Barss
Maria Gańczak
Affiliation:
Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
Peter Barss*
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
*
United Arab Emirates University, Department of Community Medicine, PO Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (peter.barss@uaeu.ac.ae)
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Abstract

This study evaluates the association between the degree of fear of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and support for different HIV testing policies. A strong fear of acquiring HIV infection at work was widespread among a sample of 601 Polish surgical and emergency nurses. Most favored inappropriate HIV testing of all surgical patients and inpatients. Previous training about HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and experience caring for HIV-positive patients had a significant impact on reducing support for testing of all inpatients but not for testing of surgical patients.

Information

Type
Concise Communication
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 28 , Issue 2 , February 2007 , pp. 230 - 233
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2007

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