Knowledge, attitudes, practice and behaviour of nurses caring for HIV/AIDS patients at public hospitals in the Tshwane Metropolitan area
Date
2011-03
Authors
Shabani, Omari
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was conducted with the aim to establish how knowledge, attitudes, practice and
behaviour influence nurses’ care for HIV/AIDS patients in public hospitals in the Tshwane
Metropolitan area. This knowledge is necessary in order to provide suggestions to empower
and upskill nurses to enable them and the relevant hospitals to take care of HIV/AIDS
patients effectively and efficiently in the Tshwane Metropolitan area in particular, and in
South Africa in general.
This study was motivated or informed by the fact that in South Africa a great majority of
people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) are treated in state hospitals (Shisana et al,
2005) as quoted by Dijkstra, et al (2007) where they are cared for by nurses, doctors and
other health professionals. Moreover to date little is known about the practical use that
medical staff make of the HIV/AIDS policy in state hospitals in South Africa, as well as their
knowledge on HIV/AIDS, and relevant attitudes, practice and behaviour in general.
The research question was to establish or determine to what extent the nurses’ knowledge,
attitudes, practice and behaviour influence their care for HIV/AIDS patients at public
hospitals in the Tshwane Metropolitan area.
To confirm or reject our assumptions relating to nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, practice and
behaviour, 83 male and females nurses, selected by means of census sampling from Steve
Biko Academic Hospital, Dr George Mukari Hospital and Kalafong Hospital (all these
hospitals are in the Tshwane Metropolitan Area), were asked to answer a questionnaire based
on the variables of knowledge, attitudes, practice and behaviour.
The results of this study indicate that the majority of the nurses in the targeted hospitals are
more experienced in caring for HIV/AIDS patients because they have been caring and
treating HIV/AIDS patients for more than four years. They are aware of HIV/AIDS’
existence, its transmission and prevention. The level of understanding of the content of the
different training sessions on various aspects of HIV/AIDS care and management for those
who attended in-service training sessions organised to prepare them for their job, appeared to
be adequate and extensive. And as a result, they possess some in-depth knowledge about
HIV/AIDS. They are happy because they are content with their jobs, as well as caring and
treating HIV/AIDS patients. Most of them have very positive outlooks and because of this,
they behave positively towards HIV/AIDS patients. Moreover, because of being aware of the
risk involved in their job, as well as its implications, they practice universal precautions when
caring for and treating their patients. They also enjoy support from their families and are not
afraid of contracting HIV while carrying out their tasks.
However, there are still nurses in the targeted hospitals unaware or in denial of HIV/AIDS’
existence, ignorant of its transmission, or prevention, who believe certain myths and hold
misconceptions on HIV/AIDS. Given the fact the majority of nurses at the targeted hospitals
did not attend any in-service training sessions regarding the various aspects of HIV/AIDS
care and management to prepare them for their job and responsibilities, they lack in-depth
knowledge on HIV/AIDS, and are not practicing universal precautions when caring and
treating their patients. Also possibly because the majority of these nurses are aged forty and
older and hold only nursing certificates – even those who have attended some of the inservice
training sessions – their level of understanding of the content of the training remains
inadequate. These nurses are also not aware of the main mode of transmission of their
patients. Because they are not satisfied with their job, are unhappy and hold negative attitudes
their treatment of HIV/AIDS patients under their care is not up to standard.
Thus, nurses at the targeted hospitals with adequate and extensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS,
who have positive attitudes resulting in similar behaviour, and who are contented and happy
in the practice of their job, are more willing to care and treat the HIV/AIDS patients. This is
in contrast to those without knowledge (or with insufficient knowledge) of HIV/AIDS, whose
attitudes and behaviour are negative and who are dissatisfied with and unhappy in their jobs.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om die kennis, houdings en gedrag van verpleegsters wat MIV/Vigs pasiente behandel in die Tswane Metropool te ondersoek. Na ‘n deeglike literatuurondersoek is ‘n vraelys ontwikkel om die kennis, houdings enpraktyke van vepleegsters te beoordeel. Die vraelys is afgeneem by 83 manlike en vroulike verpleegters van die Steve Biko Akademiese Hospitaal, die Dr. George Mukari Hospitaal en die Kalefong Hospitaal afgeneem. Resultate van die studie toon dat die oorgrote meerderheid van die verpleegsters besonder bekwaam was in die versorging van MIV/Vigs pasiente. Daar is egter ook areas gevind waar verpeegsters nie aan die vereistes voldoen het nie en stappe ter verbetering van die situasie word in die werkstuk voorgestel.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om die kennis, houdings en gedrag van verpleegsters wat MIV/Vigs pasiente behandel in die Tswane Metropool te ondersoek. Na ‘n deeglike literatuurondersoek is ‘n vraelys ontwikkel om die kennis, houdings enpraktyke van vepleegsters te beoordeel. Die vraelys is afgeneem by 83 manlike en vroulike verpleegters van die Steve Biko Akademiese Hospitaal, die Dr. George Mukari Hospitaal en die Kalefong Hospitaal afgeneem. Resultate van die studie toon dat die oorgrote meerderheid van die verpleegsters besonder bekwaam was in die versorging van MIV/Vigs pasiente. Daar is egter ook areas gevind waar verpeegsters nie aan die vereistes voldoen het nie en stappe ter verbetering van die situasie word in die werkstuk voorgestel.
Description
Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
Keywords
HIV/AIDS patients -- Care -- South Africa -- Pretoria, Nursing, Nurses, Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- Industrial psychology, Assignments -- Industrial psychology, Dissertations -- HIV/AIDS management, Theses -- HIV/AIDS management, Assignments -- HIV/AIDS management