Fear of HIV infection and impact of training on the attitudes of surgical and emergency nurses toward inpatient HIV testing.

This study evaluates the association between the degree of fear of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and support for different HIV testing policies. A strong fear of acquiring HIV infection at work was widespread among a sample of 601 Polish surgical and emergency nurses. Most favored inappropriate HIV testing of all surgical patients and inpatients. Previous training about HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and experience caring for HIV-positive patients had a significant impact on reducing support for testing of all inpatients but not for testing of surgical patients.