Effect of Self-Learning Intervention on Knowledge, Attitudes and Care Provided among Nurses Caring for HIV\ AIDs Patients in Fever Hospitals

Background: Self-directed learning is important for the ongoing professional education of nurses. Caring is one of the most attributes of nurses providing care for the patients with AIDS. So they are expected to have the knowledge, accurate practices, and positive attitudes toward such patients who have no chance to cure. Aim: Evaluate effect of self-learning intervention on knowledge, attitudes and care provided among nurses caring for HIV\ AIDs patients in fever hospitals. Design: Quasi-experimental study research. Setting: Tanta and Alexandria fever hospitals. Subjects : 79 nurses who provide direct care to HIV/ AIDS patients in previous settings Tools: Tool I: HIV knowledge Questionnaire (HIVKQ 20 ) which was developed by Carey and Schroder (2002); Tool II: AIDS Attitude Scale which was developed by Forman et al, (1992); Tool III: Observation checklist to assess practice of nurses dealing with HIV/ AIDS patients. Results: 54.4% of the studied nurses had low Knowledge scores and this percentage decreased to 5.1% post-self-learning program. The percentage of the nurses who had positive attitudes increased from 3% to 27.8 % in post-self- learning. The majority (92.4%) of them had unsatisfactory practice in pre-self-learning and this decreased to only 17.7% post-self-learning. Statistically significant correlation was found between total knowledge and attitude scores. Conclusion and recommendation: Self learning had a significant positive effect on knowledge, attitudes and different care aspects among studied nurses. So its recommended to encourage continuous learning and training among nurses working with AIDS patients with emphasize on maintaining positive attitudes and patients right to take optimal care regardless to his disease.