EFFECTS OF GROUP DISCUSSION AND GUIDED PATIENT-CARE EXPERIENCE ON NURSES ATTITUDES TOWARDS CARE OF PATIENTS WITH AIDS

Nurses with limited experience in caring for persons with AIDS (PWAs) were randomized into three groups receiving an educational session on universal precautions and (a) three group discussion sessions; (b) thr ee sessions of caring for a PWA; or (c) assessment materials only. Bot h interventions were conducted by a nursing instructor experienced in care of PWAs and infectious diseases over a 3-4 week period. Measures included instruments for assessing prejudicial attitudes towards homos exual PWAs, self-ratings of infectious disease knowledge, ratings of p erceived comfort and confidence in caring for PWAs, and a measure of w illingness to provide care to PWAs. Results showed no significant chan ge in willingness to provide care over time in any of the groups. Mult iple regression exploring predictors of willingness to provide care fo und only the measure of AIDS prejudice to be an independent predictor of willingness to provide care to PWAs 6 months after completion of th e intervention phase.