Nurses’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS: Effects of a health education intervention on two nursing groups in Cairo University, Egypt

Abstract

Information education and communication (IEC) programs are the most effective available approaches for combating 
the HIV pandemic especially among nurses. The aim of this study is to assess knowledge, perceptions and attitudes 
towards HIV/AIDS before and after an IEC intervention program. The study used a prospective interventional design 
that was conducted on two different nursing groups: post-graduate nursing staff (67 nurses) and undergraduate 
nursing students (73 students). A significant improvement in the general knowledge and perceptions score was 
observed (from 7.29 1.2 to 8.01 1.5 with P <0.001). The intervention also succeeded to improve the mode of 
transmission knowledge score significantly from 6.83 0.9 to 7.21 0.8 (P <0.001). Furthermore, the intervention 
significantly improved the prevention knowledge score. The main source of information was television (66.7%). 
Although favorable attitudes increased after the intervention it did not reach the desired level. A planned HIV/AIDS 
education program significantly improved the HIV/AIDS knowledge, and to a lesser extent the perceptions and 
attitudes toward patients with HIV/AIDS. Further structured education should be conducted emphasising the role of 
mass media.