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Wei-Ti Chen, RN, CNM, DNSc, Department of Community of Health Systems, University of California, San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, N531c, Box 0608, san francisco, CA 94143, 415-514-0836, wche5454@itsa.ucsf.edu
More than 850,000 Chinese have been diagnosed with HIV; and the number of people in China estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS is currently 1 million. The purpose of this study was to describe what nurses know about HIV/AIDS in the First Affiliated Hospital of Jiamusi University, Heilongjiang Province, China. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Surveys were sent to 186 nurses with 95% (N=177) returned. Only 7.9% of the nurses used condoms during their first sexual intercourse. Eighty-six percent had been stuck by sharps while working, and 76% had been splashed by patient fluids. For 12 basic HIV/AIDS questions, the mean score was 6.66. The mean score is 6.28 for nine HIV/AIDS attitude questions. Knowledge and attitude are negatively related (r=-0.215, P<0.005). Nurses show little concern about the risk of HIV/AIDS. Perhaps they are not aware they are at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS or they do not recognize that the relationship between HIV/AIDS knowledge and actual practice is relevant. Knowledge about HIV/AIDS can engender a negative attitude toward HIV/AIDS patients. Training in reducing the risk for occupational exposures in this sample is important. Nurses who have a better understanding of HIV/AIDS prevention are more likely to have negative attitudes toward HIV/AIDS. This study suggests the necessity of increasing HIV/AIDS education for nurses, family members, friends and all healthcare providers.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Nurses, HIV Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.