CORRELATES OF ATTITUDES CONCERNING HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS AND ACQUIRED-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-SYNDROME AMONG HOSPITAL WORKERS

Background: Correlates of attitudes related to HIV and AIDS for both c linical and nonclinical support hospital workers have not been well de scribed. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among employee s of an acute care, inner-city hospital to assess attitudes related to HIV and AIDS. Results: A 51% response rate was obtained, with complet ed questionnaires obtained from 321 clinical workers and 245 nonclinic al workers. The proportions tolerant of patients with HIV infection we re 83% and 78%, respectively. Factors associated with a tolerant attit ude in clinical workers included personally knowing someone with AIDS, high scores on general AIDS knowledge, high knowledge scores on modes of transmission, low levels of fear, and accurate perceptions of occu pational risk. In nonclinical workers, factors associated with toleran ce included having been tested for HIV, personally knowing someone wit h AIDS, accurate perceptions of occupational risk, low levels of fear, high scores on general AIDS knowledge, and high knowledge scores on m odes of transmission.Conclusions: Although the study was cross-section al, the data suggest potentially modifiable factors associated with AI DS-related attitudes. These factors may be amenable to intervention am ong both clinical and nonclinical support hospital employees. (AJIC Am J Infect Control 1994;22:293-9)