Predictors of Taiwanese Nurses' Intention to Care for Patients who are HIV Positive

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to explore the knowledge of, attitudes toward, and intention to care for HIV-positive patients among 223 Taiwanese nurses. They worked in many different settings and had a variety of levels of exposure to HIV-positive patients. The findings of this research revealed that most Taiwanese nurses lacked sufficient knowledge to prevent themselves from becoming infected in the workplace. Their attitude about giving care to HIV-positive patients was generally negative; most nurses stated that they did not intend to care for these patients. A regression analysis revealed that knowledge was not a significant predictor of intention. Attitudes about societal treatment of HIV-positive people and nursing care were significant predictors of intention. Implications for practice and education of Taiwanese nurses are discussed.