Knowledge of HIV/AIDS among health care workers in China

This study was designed to assess knowledge of AIDS among health profession als in China via a cross-sectional survey. A self-administered questionnair e requesting demographic characteristics and basic AIDS knowledge was given to health professionals in 11 provinces, cities, and autonomous regions. Q uestionnaires were completed by 1,400 of 1,500 (93%) health professionals s urveyed. The percentages of correct answers ranged from 3% to 68%. Findings included that public health workers had more knowledge than clinicians; ha ving attended training workshops was not associated with an adequate level of knowledge; and knowledge differed by professional level and by the geogr aphic region in which they worked. Although most health professionals quest ioned knew that AIDS is caused by an infectious agent, their knowledge of t ransmission routes, the "window period" and the length of the incubation pe riod is still inadequate. Thus, health professionals in China urgently need both more training and more effective training. The effectiveness of futur e HIV/AIDS workshops should be evaluated.