Knowledge, perceptions, and practice of nurses toward HIV+/AIDS patients diagnosed with tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major health problem in the United States. Nurses may be exposed to TB and not realize their risks for becoming infected. The presentation of HIV-associated TB is somewhat different from "standard TB."

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if an educational program could improve nurses' attitudes, level of knowledge, and compliance with infection control standards for HIV/AIDS patients diagnosed with TB.

METHOD: Participants included 50 staff nurses. The experimental group (35) and control group (15) completed a knowledge test and an attitude survey. Researchers observed participants for compliance with infection control standards pretest and posttest.

RESULTS

Following an educational program, the experimental group demonstrated a greater knowledge of TB than the control group who did not participate in the educational program (F [1.47] = 14.43, p = .000). In addition, the experimental group had a greater improvement in their Nursing Intervention Observation Tool adherence to respiratory isolation and universal precaution protocols scores as compared to the control group (F [1.47] = 8.95, p = .004). However, there was not a tangible increase in knowledge level of AIDS, attitudes or concerns about caring for these patients.

CONCLUSION

This nursing research study supports the need for an ongoing educational program with continual monitoring of infection control practices to positively affect client and caregiver outcomes.