The impact of an HIV/AIDS training course for baccalaureate nursing students

This study focuses on the impact of a specialized course to train baccalaur eate nursing students to work with individuals with HIV disease. The overal l goals of the course were to increase general and specific knowledge while improving beliefs regarding individuals with HIV disease. The course outli ne included components to increase knowledge in the areas of epidemiology, medical considerations, treatment, ethical and legal issues, and psychosoci al issues. Pretests and posttests were given to participants and to a compa rison group which had not received educational training. Results indicated the training significantly increased HIV/AIDS knowledge, and participants r eported more positive beliefs about individuals with HIV disease. Human immunodeficiency virus disease has presented the medical community wi th tremendous challenges. Early in the epidemic, when etiology was unknown and those infected and affected appeared to be constrained to marginalized groups, research demonstrated that, similar to the general public, medical professionals held negative stereotypes and beliefs about individuals with HIV disease (Douglas, Kalman, & Kalman, 1985; Kelly, St. Lawrence, Hood, Sm ith, & Cook, 1988a, 1988b; vanServellen, Lewis, & Leake, 1988). This includ ed nurses and nursing students (Lester & Beard, 1988; Royse & Birge, 1987). More recently, there has been a shift, with several studies indicating tha t attitudes among these professionals toward individuals with HIV disease m ay be improving (Bowman, Brown, & Eason, 1994; Brown, Calder, & Rae, 1990; Goldenberg & Laschinger, 1991; Gross & Passannante, 1993; Jemmott, Jemmott, & Cruz-Collins: 1992; Strasser & Damrosch, 1992). This change in part may be because of increased attention to HIV disease in nursing curricula and continuing education programs (Duffy, 1993; Grimes, 1992; Gross & Passannante, 1993; Sowell & Spicer, 1992). However, there is limited research on the actual impact of such educational training methods on attitudes and knowledge development. The intent of this study was to exa mine the impact of a specialized course for baccalaureate nursing students. The goals of the course included educational components in the areas of: Disease progression. Testing. Epidemiological considerations. Immunologic concerns. Issues related to medical treatment. Consideration of psychosocial issues. Legal and ethical concerns. In addition to these didactic components, the course also included discussi ons on treatment issues and societal stigma; activities to increase self-aw areness stigma; and case presentations, with the overall goal of improving attitudes toward and concerning working with individuals with HIV disease.