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Psychosocial Responses of Hospital Workers to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) 1
Author(s) -
O'Donnell Lydia,
O'Donnel Carl R.,
Pleck Joseph H.,
Snarey John,
Rose Richard M.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1987.tb00314.x
Subject(s) - psychosocial , psychology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , homosexuality , clinical psychology , disease , sexual contact , medicine , psychiatry , family medicine , gonorrhea , psychoanalysis
To assess the psychosocial responses of hospital workers to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), 237 hospital employees were interviewed. Information was obtained on frequency and nature of contact with AIDS patients; knowledge about AIDS; attitudes about AIDS and about homosexuality; and stresses related to AIDS care. Four indices were developed: AIDS‐Contact, AIDS‐Phobia, Homophobia, and AIDS‐Stress. Misperceptions and fears about AIDS, as well as negative attitudes about individuals with the disease, were common. AIDS‐Phobia was positively correlated with Homophobia and AIDS‐Stress. AIDS‐Phobia and AIDS‐Stress were negatively correlated with AIDS‐Contact. More patient contact was associated with lower levels of perceived stress, except for those with frequent but impersonal patient contact. Strategies for educational programs based on results are proposed.