AIDS: a comparative analysis of the attitudes of nurses and social workers toward persons with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome

• Main Author: Swan, Rosemary O.
• Format: Others
• Published: DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center 1990
• Subjects: Social Work
• Online Access: http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/1639; http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3040&context=dissertations

The intent of this study was to examine the degree to which contact with working persons with AIDS, fear of contagion, homophobia, and knowledge about AIDS influences the service attitudes of nurses and social workers who work with persons with the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The subjects of this stUdy were 38 participants, 19 nurses and 19 social workers who were purposively selected from the staff at Georgia Regional Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia. The instrument used in this comparative study was a 33 item, self-administered questionnaire which was designed by the researcher. A series of question were developed using both a Likert scale and a True/False measurement of responses. All questionnaire were administered during a five-day period. The analysis was completed utilizing the Statistical package for the Social Sciences X (SPSSX). The t-test was used to test significance to differences. The results of this study found that there is no statistically significant difference in the attitudes of nurses and social workers toward persons with AIDS. It can be concluded that the attitudes of nurses and social workers toward persons with AIDS is guided by knowledge, skills and professional values rather than moral judgements and personal feelings.