Influence of a persuasive strategy on nursing students' beliefs and attitudes toward provision of care to people living with HIV/AIDS

Based on the theory of planned behavior and the elaboration likelihood mode l, the aim of this study was to verify the effect of persuasive messages on nursing students' beliefs and attitudes regarding provision of care to peo ple living with HIV/AIDS. The assumption was that a persuasive communicatio n strategy induces a constructive change in beliefs and attitudes regarding provision of care. Baseline data collection was performed among a group of 74 nursing students (experimental group = 27; control group = 47). The que stionnaire assessed the variables of the theory of planned behavior (i.e., beliefs, attitudes, perceived behavioral control). The results confirmed th at persuasive messages generated a change in beliefs and attitudes of the n ursing students concerning providing care to people living with HIV/AIDS. I t appears that this strategy of modifying behavioral predispositions is eff ective and generates cognitive and affective changes. Therefore, educationa l programs should take these observations into consideration to ensure that future nurses are better prepared to provide appropriate care to people li ving with HIV/AIDS.