Correlation of misperceptions in Turkish nurses’ knowledge regarding HIV and their attitude toward patients with HIV/AIDS

Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) cases have been increasing in Turkey, in line with global trends. This study aimed to determine whether nurses’ knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS transmission gave rise to their attitude toward patients with HIV/AIDS and resulted in any patient discrimination. This cross-sectional study included 164 nurses from the Yozgat State Hospital, Turkey. A demographic features form, an HIV/AIDS information form, and the AIDS Attitude Scale were used. Analysis of variance and t tests were used for statistical analyses.
The included nurses were both misinformed and inadequately informed about AIDS transmission. More than half of the nurses believed that foams, sponges, and diaphragms were prophylactics, while one third believed that intrauterine devices and birth control pills were prophylactics for HIV/AIDS. Nurses with graduate and undergraduate education had higher levels of knowledge regarding AIDS than did nurses with high school education. The subscales of the AIDS Attitude Scale showed correlations between fear of contagion and negative feelings (intermediate correlation), fear of contagion and professional resistance (weak correlation), and professional resistance and negative feelings (weak correlation). Nurses had insufficient and incorrect knowledge of HIV transmission and prophylactic methods, leading to a negative attitude toward patients with AIDS/HIV.