From a social perspective, AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) revives longstanding
issues about the relationships between health care professionals and their patients. A particular
issue is the willingness of physicians and nurses to treat people with a contagious, fatal, and
stigmatized disease.
Colombotos, J., Messeri, P., McConnell, M.B., et al.: Physicians, Nurses, and AIDS: Findings
From a National Study. Grant No. 5 R01 HS06359.
This report presents responses to AIDS-related questions from a national
sample of 958 physicians and 1,520 registered nurses in 1990-91. Questions included willingness to
treat AIDS patients and whether they believe that they were professionally obligated and should be
legally required to do so, attitudes toward homosexual men and intravenous drug users,
knowledge about HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) transmission, perceptions of the risk of
HIV contagion, precautionary practices, trust in HIV authorities, career plans, and attitudes
toward mandatory testing and mandatory reporting. Physicians' and nurses' responses were
compared nationally. Comparisons were also made based on the AIDS prevalence in different parts
of the country.
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