Exploring nursing students' attitudes towards patients affected by HIV/AIDS. Does nursing curriculum need any improvement? The results of a European multicentre study

BackgroundCaring for people with HIV/AIDS is a challenging issue nursing students, involving sometimes misconceptions due to different cultural, political, and religious views. Aim: the aim of this study was investigate students' attitudes on caring HIV/AIDS.MethodsA convenient sample undergraduate students enrolled in four European universities recruited. Data were collected by administering AIDS Attitude Scale (AAS) analysed through parametric non-parametric statistics. The consisted 594 which 162 (27.3%) English, 246 (41.4%) Italian 186 (31.3%) Greek.ResultsStudents' toward patients relatively positive, although most them indicated fear contracting HIV clinical practice. Students' positive feelings also correlated strong willingness take care them.ConclusionsA significant part participants believed that make high-risk profession. Furthermore, not limited Students general well-disposed towards patients' population but there still stigma associated condition. A new educational approach may help redefining improving quality care. Further investigation would shading light why are biased approaching those patients.