Knowledge, perceptions, and practice of nurses toward HIV+/AIDS patients diagnosed with tuberculosis.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major health problem in the United States. Nurses may be exposed to TB and not realize their risks for becoming infected. The presentation of HIV-associated TB is somewhat different from "standard TB." PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if an educational program could improve nurses' attitudes, level of knowledge, and compliance with infection control standards for HIV/AIDS patients diagnosed with TB. METHOD: Participants included 50 staff nurses. The experimental group (35) and control group (15) completed a knowledge test and an attitude survey. Researchers observed participants for compliance with infection control standards pretest and posttest. RESULTS: Following an educational program, the experimental group demonstrated a greater knowledge of TB than the control group who did not participate in the educational program (F [1.47] = 14.43, p = .000). In addition, the experimental group had a greater improvement in their Nursing Intervention Observation Tool adherence to respiratory isolation and universal precaution protocols scores as compared to the control group (F [1.47] = 8.95, p = .004). However, there was not a tangible increase in knowledge level of AIDS, attitudes or concerns about caring for these patients. CONCLUSION: This nursing research study supports the need for an ongoing educational program with continual monitoring of infection control practices to positively affect client and caregiver outcomes.

Author information

Author/s: Messmer, P R (PR); Jones, S (S); Moore, J (J); Taggart, B (B); Parchment, Y (Y); Holloman, F (F); Quintero, L M (LM);

Affiliation: Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, FL 33140, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of continuing education in nursing (J Contin Educ Nurs), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: -1998 May-Jun; vol 29 (issue 3) : pp 117-25

Dates: Created 1998/08/06; Completed 1998/08/06; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 9652265, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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