Beliefs and Attitudes of Medical Students from Public and Private Universities in Malaysia towards Individuals with HIV/AIDS

Abstract

We describe the findings from a survey assessing the beliefs regarding testing, confidentiality, disclosure, and environment of care and attitudes towards care of people with HIV/AIDS (PLHWA), in 1020, 4th and 5th year medical students, from public and private medical universities in Malaysia. A self-administered validated questionnaire based on the UNAIDS Model Questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale (5, strongly disagree; 4, disagree; 3, neutral; 2, agree; 1, strongly agree) was used as a survey tool. The survey included demographic data and data on undergraduate training received on HIV/AIDS. Statistical significance in the demographic data and training received by respondents was evaluated using the chi-square test while the independent Student's t-test was used for comparison of means between public and private universities. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant with 95% confidence interval. Our study revealed less than 20% of medical students received adequate training to care for PLHWA. They had prevalent negative beliefs regarding testing, confidentiality, disclosure and environment of care towards PLHWA although in giving care to PLHWA, their attitudes were largely positive and nondiscriminatory.

Differences in Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior towards HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections between Sexually Active Foreign and Chinese Medical Students

“…The difference that we found here may partly come from the language barrier for foreigner to extend the information sources on the studied diseases. In accordance with other previous studies [ 15 , 16 , 18 , 27 ], this finding highlighted the need of reinforcing medical student background on HIV/AIDS and STIs especially among foreigners studying in Chinese universities who noticeably showed greater interest to know more about the studied infections.…”

“…More importantly, this study revealed that age, number of sexual partners, HIV testing, considering oneself as high risk individual to HIV, considering physical contact as route of transmission, poverty, and having only books and newspapers as main source of HIV/AIDS information were factors that increased discrimination of people infected with HIV by medical students; however, deeper knowledge subsequently increases medical students' support towards people living with HIV/AIDS and STIs. In accordance with previous studies [ 8 , 15 , 17 , 31 ], an overlap misconception, confusion, and fears may lead medical students to discriminate and provide poor medical care towards people infected with HIV and STIs infected individuals. Overall, this study provided substantial evidence of reinforcing education of medical students on HIV/AIDS and STIs with a particular interest in foreign students who are limited in HIV/AIDS information.…”

Pharmacy Student Attitudes and Willingness to Engage in Care with People Living with HIV/AIDS

“…It is interesting to note that several manuscripts reported students from different professions having negative general attitudes but also positive specific attitudes toward caring for PLWHA. 16,[21][22][23] Thus, students in the health professions seem to have a generalized concern for PLWHA. However, it seems that empathy in itself does not mean a student will have fewer negative attitudes toward PLWHA and discomforts in personal contact with those who have HIV/AIDS.…”

Medical and Nursing Students Perceived Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices concerning Human Immunodeficiency Virus

“…The majority of medical students in public and private universities in Malaysia believed that the beds of HIV-infected patients should be marked. Such practices are discriminatory and are an infringement of the patients' right to autonomy and confidentiality [10]. Medical students in another study were found to be lacking in correct knowledge about HIV vertical transmission and effectiveness of condom use [11].…”