Russian nursing students' knowledge level and attitudes in the context of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - a descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to describe the knowledge of Russian nursing students regarding HIV and Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and their attitudes towards caring for people/patients living with HIV or AIDS (PLWHA - People Living With HIV/AIDS) and their possible homophobic attitudes. The HIV epidemic in Russia is substantial and increasing rapidly. Hence this study provides important new information regarding this phenomenon. METHODS: The data was collected by questionnaire from students in three nursing schools (n = 102, response rate 95.3%). The data was analyzed using PASW Statistics version 18. For computing the level of the students' AIDS knowledge, all correct answers were recorded as equal to (1), while all incorrect and "Don't know" answers were recorded as equal to (0). Each respondent's scores were totaled and individual scores were analyzed using regression analysis. The effect of demographic variables on the average scores of attitudes was also subjected to regression analysis. RESULTS: Overall, students' knowledge level regarding HIV and AIDS was moderate (range 5-26). Of a maximum score of 33, the mean of correct answers was 19.8 (SD = 3.70). Nursing students' attitudes were quite negative and they also demonstrated homophobic attitudes. The mean scale score for nursing students' general attitude was 2.75, and for homophobic attitudes it was 3.3 (min = 1, max = 5). Only the background factor of gender correlated with the homophobic level demonstrated (p = .05, ß = -.67). Nursing students' overall willingness to provide care for PLWHA was associated with their attitudes (p = .003, ß = -.534). CONCLUSIONS: Given that the HIV epidemic in Russia is both substantial and increasing, it is essential to improve HIV nursing education to provide sufficient and up-to-date information about HIV and also to prepare nursing students for caring for PLWHA. In doing so, this may help to address both the deficits in student knowledge, and also modify their attitude towards PLWHA.

Relational justice, economic fluctuations, and long-term sickness absence: a multi-cohort study.

Objectives Previous studies mainly based on the public sector show that organizational justice is associated with a lower risk of sickness absence (SA). The purpose of this study is to analyze this association with multi-cohort data from different employment sectors and to discover whether the association varies according to the general economic context or financial situation of the workplace. Methods Cross-sectional Finnish Quality of Work Life surveys from 1997, 2003, and 2008 were combined with data on long-term SA obtained from the Finnish Social Security Institution. The associations between SA periods in the three years following each survey and perceived relational justice, general economic context, and the perceived financial situation of the workplace were analyzed with negative binomial regression. Results Higher level of relational justice was statistically significantly associated with lower rate of SA after controlling for baseline health, but not after controlling for job control and job demands. An interaction was found with relational justice and the financial situation of the workplace. Higher level of relational justice was related to a lower risk of SA when the financial situation of the workplace was stable, but there was a higher risk of SA when the financial situation was insecure. Conclusions The association between relational justice and a lower risk of SA is in line with previous studies when the financial situation of the workplace is stable. In unstable economic conditions, employees may have the courage to take sick leave when they are ill if they are fairly treated by their supervisor.

Identifying cancer patients with greater need for information about sexual issues.

PURPOSE: The aim of the research was to identify cancer patients who may have a greater need about sexuality-related information. The study explored the association between sexuality-related information need and socio-demographic factors, cancer type, types of cancer treatment, experienced adverse effects on sexuality, and changes experienced in relationships. METHODS AND SAMPLE: This study used a survey design. Questionnaires were distributed and completed by 505 patients, with a diversity of cancer diagnoses, treated at a university hospital in Finland in 2009 and 2010. Information needs were rated using the international and well validated Information Needs Questionnaire (INQ). Sosiodemographic factors, cancer type, treatments, experienced adverse effects on sexuality and changed experienced in relationships were measured by using another questionnaire. KEY RESULTS: Those patients with experiences of functional problems or other adverse effects on sexuality due to cancer or treatment found sexuality related information more important than those with no experiences of adverse effects on sexuality. Patients with experiences of weakened relationships due to cancer had greater information needs than those with experiences of strengthened relationships or no changes in relationships due to cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer patients should be asked whether cancer or treatment has caused problems in their sexuality and possible relationships. Patients who experience problems in their sexuality or relationships should be provided an opportunity to discuss the issues. The whole oncology team have a role to play in patient sexuality guidance. The items on the INQ could be used as a reference tool for exploring patients' information needs.