A Study for Investigating Predictors of AIDS and Patients Care Intention Among Nursing Students

Lee, Jong Kyung

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to find out the level of knowledge, attitude, subjective norm, social interaction, and behavioral intention of nursing students regarding AIDS. It also identified factors that predict behavioral intentions and to provide care for patients with AIDS using Theory of Reasoned Action. The subjects consisted of 117 nursing students at three universities. Data was collected with self reporting in a questionnaire of with 67 items. Data was analyzed by an SPSS pc+ program. The results were as follows; 1. The mean age of the subjects was 20.98 years. The mean score for HIV/AIDS knowledge was 24.444 out of 32. Mostly Korean students were quite knowle- dgeable about the basic facts and symptoms of AIDS but confused about the made of transmission such as public toilets, preven- tion methods, and especially infection control. 2. This study found that social interaction, attitudes and subjective norms of Korean nursing students explained the intention to care for AIDS patients. The students who had a more positive attitude toward caring for AIDS patients and those who perceived more support from their significant others for caring the AIDS patients reported a more positive intention to care for AIDS patients. 3. In stepwise multiple regression analysis, 47.58% of the variance in AIDS patient care intention was accounted for by social interaction (33.41%), attitude (9.1%), and subjective norm (5.0 %). According to the finding of this study, and social interaction are the most significant predictors of intentions. Therefore it can be suggested that a HIV/AIDS prevention program should focus on transmission modes and prevention methods, especially in infection control. AIDS education efforts aimed at nursing students should place greater emphasis on correcting these kinds of misconceptions. Nursing intenvention for reducing fear of contagion, improving perception of social interaction, fostering positive attitudes and increasing intention to care for AIDS patients should be provided for nursing students. They also recommended that nursing students be adequately prepared to care for AIDS patients because of the increasing probability that they will encounter AIDS patients. Therefore it is important that education about HIV/AIDS should be incorporated within current undergraduate curriculum.