Nursing students' attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients in Finland, Estonia and Lithuania

This paper presents baseline data on attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients and homophobic levels among nursing students in three Baltic Sea countries: Finland, Estonia and Lithuania. The aim is to describe and compare nursing students’ attitudes in these three countries and to explore how attitudes to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scandinavian journal of caring sciences 2009-06, Vol.23 (2), p.282-289
Main Authors: Suominen, Tarja, Koponen, Niina, Staniuliene, Vida, Istomina, Natalja, Aro, Ilme, Kisper-Hint, Ima-Riina, Vänskä, Maj-Lis, Välimäki, Maritta
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Attitude
attitudes
Estonia
Female
Finland
HIV Infections
HIV/AIDS
Humans
knowledge
Lithuania
Male
Nurse-Patient Relations
Nursing
nursing students
quantitative
Students, Nursing - psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult
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Summary:This paper presents baseline data on attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients and homophobic levels among nursing students in three Baltic Sea countries: Finland, Estonia and Lithuania. The aim is to describe and compare nursing students’ attitudes in these three countries and to explore how attitudes towards HIV/AIDS correlate with background variables. The total sample comprised 471 nursing students. The respondents demonstrated average attitude scores towards patients with HIV/AIDS and rather positive attitudes towards homosexually oriented patients. Significant country differences were found, with Finnish nursing students showing the most positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients and homosexually oriented patients. Previous experience of HIV/AIDS patients was the single factor with the greatest positive impact on nursing students’ attitudes. Nursing students’ willingness to provide care for an HIV/AIDS patient was associated with a positive attitude towards these patients. Length of employment experience correlated negatively with general attitude, and older nursing students with more work experience showed a more negative attitude towards homosexual patients. Proper education to achieve a sound knowledge base and good nursing skills promotes a more positive attitude to HIV/AIDS. It is important that nursing students are sensitive and show respect for the patient’s human dignity. There is need for greater harmonization of education in the three countries.
ISSN:0283-9318
1471-6712
DOI:10.1111/j.1471-6712.2008.00620.x