The relationship between nurses' knowledge of Hiv, fear of Aids, and use of universal precautions
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between knowledge of HIV, fear of AIDS, and use of universal precautions in registered nurses. A descriptive survey design used a battery of questionnaires, including the National League for Nursing's Caring for Persons with AIDS Test, the University of Texas Fear of AIDS Scale, and a demographic questionnaire. The random sample consisted of 109 registered nurses working at a county hospital in the southwestern United States. The Health Belief Model guided the study. Research hypotheses were: (1) There is a positive correlation between knowledge of HIV/AIDS and use of universal precautions among nurses; (2) there is a positive correlation between fear of AIDS and use of universal precautions among nurses; (3) knowledge of HIV/AIDS correlates negatively with fear of AIDS among nurses; (4) selected demographic variables correlate positively with fear of AIDS among nurses, the variables of race/ethnicity, age, and level of nursing education showing the strongest positive correlation. Research hypotheses 1 and 3 were accepted.