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Perceived risk of infection and attitudes toward risk groups: Determinants of nurses' behavioral intentions regarding AIDS patients
Author(s) -
Jemmott John B.,
Freleicher Judith,
Jemmott Loretta Sweet
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/nur.4770150408
Subject(s) - medicine , family medicine , risk perception , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , clinical psychology , psychology , perception , neuroscience
The relationship of perceived occupational risk of AIDS and attitudes toward AIDS risk groups to behavioral intentions regarding the care of AIDS patients was examined among nurses ( N = 496) residing in a selected area of New Jersey, a state with a relatively high number of reported AIDS cases. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses on anonymous mail survey responses revealed that, controlling for AIDS knowledge and years of education, nurses who perceived that caring for AIDS patients increased their risk of HIV infection scored higher on an index of intentions to avoid AIDS patient care. In addition, nurses who expressed more negative attitudes toward intravenous drug users or homosexuals were more likely to report similar intentions to avoid AIDS patient care. The implications of these findings for efforts to increase nurses' ability and willingness to provide quality care to persons with AIDS are discussed.