Spanish Nursing Students’ Attitudes toward People Living with HIV/AIDS: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is still a public health issue. Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) creates, in society, stigmatizing attitudes, fear, and discrimination against infected people; even health professionals do not feel trained enough to adequately take care of these patients, which affects the quality of care provided to such patients. The purpose of this study was to explore nursing students’ attitudes and other related factors toward people with HIV/AIDS, as well as their evolution in subsequent academic years. A cross-sectional study was performed with students in four academic years from four Spanish health sciences institutions (n = 384). Data were collected voluntarily and on an anonymous basis, utilizing the “Nursing students’ attitudes toward AIDS” (EASE) validated scale. The students’ attitudes toward people with HIV/AIDS were relatively positive, with a total mean EASE value of 85.25 ± 9.80. Statistically significant differences were observed according to the academic year (p = 0.041), in 4 out of 21 items of the scale and among students with no religious beliefs. By adjusting every variable, only the weak association with religion was maintained (p = 0.045).

Validation of the attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS scale in nursing students

“…At the time, the author of the original scale emphasised that it should be a scale in a state of revision, given that the validation of such a measuring instrument must incorporate observations derived from its practical use over time [ 34 ]. In this sense, both Serrano-Gallardo et al [ 40 ] and Leyva-Moral et al [ 41 ] and Álvarez-Serrano et al [ 42 ] identified inconsistencies due to a certain degree of ambiguity in the wording of the items, which could have led to a lack of understanding of the questions by the participants that could be affecting the internal consistency of the scale. This new proposal was intended to solve these inconsistencies, however, according to the results of the validation, it confirms the opposite, that is, that there is stigma among the surveyed students in relation to the idea that specific hospitals should be created for people with AIDS and HIV and to the idea that HIV is the greatest plague of our time, specified in factor 4 of our scale.…”

“…On the other hand, Leyva-Moral et al [ 41 ] and Álvarez-Serrano et al [ 42 ] have highlighted that the use of self-administered questionnaires would be generating participants to answer according to what is considered a desirable image [ 58 ]. However, we believe that this method of data collection should be maintained, given the inherent characteristics of the questionnaire content, which measures attitudes towards people and clinical data with special protection of confidentiality.…”

“…Thus, Serrano-Gallardo et al [ 40 ] and Leyva-Moral et al [ 41 ] highlighted that the wording of some of the items generates ambiguity and comprehension problems, which could be affecting the internal consistency of the scale. On the other hand, Leyva-Moral et al [ 41 ] and Álvarez-Serrano et al [ 42 ] reported that, being a self-administered questionnaire, participants could answer according to what is considered a desirable image, i.e., accepted by the majority. Another consideration of Leyva-Moral et al [ 41 ] is the date of creation of the questionnaire, which would imply a possible decontextualisation of the infection once it has become a chronic disease.…”

Experiencias de cuidado hacia la persona con VIH/SIDA durante la formación en Enfermería.

“…Ante dichos contextos es menester la incorporación de otras metodologías de enseñanza complementarias como estudios de caso o situaciones de enfermería en el que además se analice el estigma y discriminación en los servicios de salud. Es así como el modelo de formación profesional ha evolucionado con el paso de los años, siendo viable para desarrollar procesos educativos guiados por la asociación de la academia y la práctica, constituyendo además una forma para optimizar los procesos de aprendizaje que guíen una educación más integral (25,26).…”

The Relegated Goal of Health Institutions: Sexual and Reproductive Health

“…For the development of well-oriented health programs on this issue, it is necessary to know the attitude of health professionals towards patients with STIs. One of the most relevant STIs, due to the absence of curative treatments and vaccines, is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); the results of a study carried out in Spain with nursing students show that they have a positive attitude towards HIV patients, and this may improve their future healthcare practice in tackling this condition [ 2 ]. The identification of groups vulnerable to STIs has a special relevance for prevention programs; Perez-Morente et al have found that immigrant women in periods of crisis are more susceptible to acquiring an STI [ 3 , 4 ].…”