Physicians and AIDS Care: Does Knowledge Influence their Attitude and Comfort in Rendering Care?

ABSTRACT

Adequate knowledge; positive attitude; and feeling of comfort are important factors in providing compassionate care to patients. The purpose of this study was to assess physicians' knowledge; attitude and global comfort in caring for patients with AIDS (PWA); to determine the sociodemographic variables that could influence physicians' attitude and global comfort; and to identify any relationship between their knowledge; attitude and comfort. Consultants and residents (N=211) in two Nigerian teaching hospitals were surveyed using a two-part questionnaire. Part I elicited sociodemographic and previous AIDS encounter information; and Part II assessed knowledge; attitude and global comfort with AIDS patients care. Nigerian physicians showed satisfactory knowledge; but they harbored negative attitude and low level of comfort in caring for PWA. Previous AIDS care experience; age and being a consultant or a senior resident influenced attitude; while male gender and knowing someone with AIDS influenced global comfort. Knowledge is weakly but positively associated with attitude; while attitude is modestly associated with comfort. The study reinforced the need for an ongoing education focused on experiential learning; and professional socialization in order to influence physicians' attitude and enhance their feeling of comfort when caring for PWA