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PubMedDate not supplied

Health literacy is a predictor of HIV/AIDS knowledge.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study's objective was to evaluate the association between health literacy and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) knowledge among patients seen at an inner-city, public hospital urgent care center (UCC). METHODS: We used a prospective survey of patients offered an HIV test by their providers during a UCC visit. We measured patients' health literacy level using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) scale and assessed their HIV/AIDS knowledge using a 22-item questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 372 patients were enrolled. Among participants in this relatively young sample (55% were under the age of 40), 92 (25%) had a REALM score at or below a sixth-grade level, and 122 (33%) did not have a high school diploma. Patients' mean HIV/AIDS knowledge scores differed significantly between patients with inadequate health literacy and those with marginal or adequate health literacy. In multivariate analyses, patients' REALM scores were positively associated with patients' HIV/AIDS knowledge even after adjusting for income, education, and risk perception. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that HIV/AIDS knowledge is strongly associated with patients' health literacy in this inner-city population. These findings reiterate the need to target HIV prevention strategies toward populations with inadequate health literacy levels and to dispel misconceptions regarding HIV/AIDS that directly influence risk-taking behaviors and health care utilization.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2006

Nursing and knowledge work: issues regarding workload measurement and the informatics nurse specialist.

The profession of nursing has been faced with questions concerning workload measurement for decades, and those concerns continue to be relevant today. Traditionally, nursing has turned to time-motion studies to study this, but there is a debate about how relevant time-motion studies are to the profession of nursing when it is viewed as knowledge work. Healthcare workers, including the nursing profession, may be the single biggest group of knowledge workers. Knowledge workers today represent a significantly different workforce than are the workers of the past. Informatics, as a specialty, is relatively new to the nursing profession and continually evolving. As more nurses enter informatics and function as informatics nurse specialists, they will continue to be in the group of knowledge workers whose observable input and output is difficult to measure. Today's healthcare leaders, managers, and administrators need to identify an appropriate method of workload measurement for knowledge workers.

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice↗
PubMed1991

AIDS: knowledge, skills and attitudes among vocational trainees and their trainers.

In order to assess the adequacy of learning about the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in vocational training for general practice, a postal questionnaire survey was carried out among trainers and their trainees in seven health regions of England and Scotland. A total of 616 trainers (62%) and 538 trainees (58%) responded to the questionnaire asking about their knowledge, skills and attitudes regarding HIV and AIDS. Trainees' principal difficulties with HIV and AIDS resembled those of general practitioners currently in practice. More than 60% of trainees lacked knowledge about HIV and AIDS in babies, 50% would not accept intravenous drug misusers onto their list, only 12% found it easy to discuss sex with homosexual male patients, and only 37% felt able to offer counselling about HIV and AIDS. Trainees who had had a tutorial on HIV and AIDS as part of vocational training were significantly more knowledgeable than the remainder (P less than 0.01). In addition, trainees who found workshops on HIV and AIDS useful were more willing than others to take on drug misusers (P less than 0.05) and more confident in their ability to counsel patients with HIV infection (P less than 0.01). No significant associations were found between the trainers' own knowledge, attitudes and skills regarding HIV and AIDS and those of their trainees. It is concluded that there is a need to improve teaching about HIV and AIDS in vocational training for general practice. All general practitioner trainees should receive a tutorial to update their knowledge about HIV and AIDS, and attend a suitable workshop to challenge unfavourable attitudes and improve confidence in counselling.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Reproductive health: knowledge, attitudes and needs of adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the knowledge and attitudes of adolescents with respect to reproductive health, with particular emphasis on their knowledge of the symptoms and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), preventive strategies and sources of information. DESIGN: Questionnaire survey of a stratified random sample of Year 10 students followed by group interviews with volunteers from the sample. SETTING: The study was carried out in 33 Victorian secondary schools. PARTICIPANTS: The questionnaire was administered to a stratified random sample of 1351 Year 10 students. Group interviews were conducted with 533 volunteers from the sample. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Considerable gaps were identified in knowledge of STDs and their short-term and long-term effects on reproductive health. An STD Knowledge Score was constructed based on responses to 46 items. The mean score for the full sample was 22.7 (49.3% correct) with a standard deviation of 6.4. As a group, country students scored better than city students (mean, 23.8 v. 22.2, t = 3.97, P less than 0.001) and females better than males (mean, 23.5 v. 21.9, t = 4.21, P less than 0.001). Medical practitioners were rarely identified as a source of preventive advice. CONCLUSION: The deficiencies identified in knowledge about reproductive health suggest that young people need better access to health information. Schools and the medical profession need to work together both to provide information and to help young people develop the confidence to use available information sources.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Public knowledge of hospices: a street survey in Glasgow.

A street survey was conducted in Glasgow to find out the level of public knowledge of and attitudes to hospices generally and two local hospices. The level of knowledge was not high, though attitudes to hospices were positive. Those few respondents with unfavourable attitudes had little knowledge of hospices generally and knew little about the local hospices. The factors associated with level of knowledge and attitudes were different for the two local hospices. The media and the collection of money for hospices were the main source of knowledge.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Knowledge about HIV/AIDS amongst the New Zealand public: 1987-9.

Surveys of knowledge about AIDS were carried out in 1987 and again in 1989 amongst national samples of 1000 adult New Zealanders. During this period there was a general increase in knowledge about AIDS and a decrease in misconceptions about it. By 1989 97% of the sample knew that the virus could be transmitted through heterosexual activity and 99% knew the risks of needle sharing. Ninety-one percent knew there were no risks from touching and 80% no risks from sharing cutlery and crockery. The pattern of knowledge about AIDS was uneven throughout the population. Those with lower educational levels and those of Maori and Pacific Island descent were the least knowledgeable and the most desirous of more information. The major means of risk reduction, condom use and no needle sharing, were well known on both survey occasions. However, knowledge about limitation in partner numbers and avoidance of casual sex was less apparent in 1989 than 1987. Misconceptions about the dangers of blood donation and transfusion seem to have reduced. Only 4% now see blood donors as very much at risk down from 9% in 1987 and 32% see blood transfusion recipients as very much at risk down from 55% in 1987. Younger people appeared to know more about the transmission of the AIDS virus than did older people but they knew less about risk reduction methods.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

New Jersey high school students' knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding AIDS.

In 1988 a questionnaire was administered to 1,793 urban and suburban New Jersey high school students to survey their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior related to the acquisition of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Knowledge about the disease was high, but exaggeration of risk from social contacts was common. Although fear was associated with misperceptions, it was not always dispelled by knowledge. Nearly half (49%) of all participants reported having used condoms, indicating that condom use is somewhat familiar and acceptable to them. Over 80% thought that condoms offer some protection against AIDS. However, knowledge did not always result in recognition or practice of risk-reduction behaviors. Student suggestions for slowing the spread of AIDS stressed personal responsibility and education. Follow-up assemblies that used survey results to address gaps in knowledge appeared necessary to counter misperceptions that might have arisen from the survey.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Knowledge and use of oral rehydration therapy for childhood diarrhoea in Tumpat District.

A community based study was conducted on the understanding and knowledge of childhood diarrhoea and use of oral rehydration therapy (ORT), in four selected villages in Tumpat District, Kelantan. The calculated annual incidence of diarrhoeal disease in children aged 0 to four years in all study villages was 1.38 episodes for each child. The main care-givers of children aged 0 to four years were interviewed and asked to demonstrate how to mix a standard ORS (oral rehydration solution) sachet if they had previously used ORT. Forty percent of care-givers had heard of the locally available ORT and 30% had actually used ORT. Of those who had heard of or used ORT, 10% had good knowledge of what it was and what it was used for, 51% had some knowledge and 39% had either no knowledge or inaccurate knowledge. Of care-givers who had previously used ORT only 20.5% demonstrated the correct volume of water to add to one sachet of ORT, but 82% would discard an unused solution within 24 hours. Significantly more literate women had used ORT than those not literate (p = 0.002). Mothers, particularly those literate, are the primary target group for ORT intervention strategies. Components of health education should include advice on what ORS is, what it is used for, and how to correctly mix a standard sachet.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1990

Assessment of knowledge of AIDS and beliefs about AIDS prevention among adolescents.

This report describes the development of measures of AIDS knowledge and beliefs about AIDS prevention for adolescents. Review of the literature, focus groups, pilot testing, and reviews by advisory councils assured that the process of developing the measures contributed to their validity. These measures were administered to three samples of adolescents at high risk for contracting AIDS: 43 runaway males, 43 runaway females, and 36 self-identified gay males. Both the knowledge and the beliefs instruments showed moderately high internal consistency and test-retest reliability and successfully avoided ceiling effects. Gay males demonstrated significantly greater knowledge of AIDS; however, there were few differences in beliefs among the groups. Knowledge of AIDS was significantly correlated with beliefs about AIDS prevention. The results suggest that these measures identify gaps in knowledge and beliefs among high-risk youth.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

A cross-sectional analysis of variables impacting on AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among employees of a Minnesota teaching hospital.

We examined variables that were correlated with the AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among employees of a 455-bed acute-care Minnesota teaching hospital and its associated clinics, located in a low-prevalence area for HIV infection. In August 1987, an anonymous questionnaire was sent via interdepartmental mail to all employees (2,980), including 270 physicians. The four-page survey obtained demographic information and measured 14 variables, including degree of homosexual bias, degree of homophobia, and AIDS-related knowledge, behaviors, attitudes, and anxiety level. Responses were obtained from 2,351 (79%) of the employees. By multivariate analysis, the following variables were highly correlated with positive behaviors and attitudes toward AIDS patients (p less than .0001): lower homophobia scores, higher AIDS knowledge scores, expressed confidence in AIDS-related medical information, and a greater number of previous contacts with AIDS patients. Those with a family member or close friend with AIDS also showed more positive attitudes and behaviors (p less than .02). Level of education was correlated with knowledge about AIDS (p less than .0001) but was not correlated (p greater than .05) with more positive behaviors or attitudes inrelation to AIDS patients. Educational efforts should attempt to improve hospital employees' knowledge about AIDS and their confidence in AIDS-related medical information. Efforts to address homophobia should also be considered.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Knowledge of diarrhea and socioeconomic factors in relation to the use of oral rehydration therapy in Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand.

A study to determine the association between the use of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) by mothers who had children under five years old with diarrhea and their knowledge of diarrhea was conducted in 19 health centers and a hospital at Muang District, Samut Songkhram Province. It was found that in general there was significant association between the use of ORT and mother's knowledge of diarrhea. This significant association was still evident after considering socioeconomic factors such as age, occupation, education and economic status. It was also noted that mothers with high knowledge of diarrhea gave ORT to their children under five with diarrhea two times more frequently than mothers with low knowledge of diarrhea. The present study confirms the impact of knowledge of diarrhea on the use of ORT.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

The relationship of moral reasoning and AIDS knowledge to risky sexual behavior.

Two hypotheses were tested in this study: (a) moral reasoning and risky sexual behaviors are inversely correlated; (b) the relationship between AIDS knowledge and sexual behavior is mediated by moral reasoning such that AIDS knowledge and risky sexual behaviors are inversely correlated for higher-level moral reasoners but not for lower-level reasoners. Subjects were 103 undergraduate students who completed an instrument assessing moral reasoning, the Defining Issues Test, and two questionnaires assessing sexual behavior and knowledge about AIDS. Factor analysis identified five sexual risk-taking factors with alphas of .60 or higher. Results supported both hypotheses: (a) Risk taking during sexual intercourse (i.e., lower likelihood of using condoms) and risk taking during anal sex were significantly inversely correlated with moral reasoning; (b) For high moral reasoners, two measures of sexual risk taking were significantly negatively correlated with knowledge about AIDS: as knowledge increased, risk taking during sexual intercourse and engagement in a variety of sexual experiences decreased. The reverse relationship was true for low moral reasoners. Implications for moral development theory and research as well as for AIDS prevention campaigns are discussed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

Relationship between risk factors, knowledge and preventive behaviour relevant to skin cancer in general practice patients in south Australia.

BACKGROUND: There is an 'epidemic' increase in skin cancers worldwide in white-skinned populations. Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world despite intensive publicity in the last 30 years aimed at prevention. AIM: This study set out to assess risk factors, knowledge and preventive behaviour relevant to skin cancer in general practice patients in South Australia, and to investigate the relationship between risk, knowledge and behaviour. METHOD: A questionnaire on skin cancer was distributed to 980 patients aged 16 years and over attending general practitioners' surgeries in South Australia. A total of 810 questionnaires were analysed (83%). RESULTS: There was a high overall level of knowledge and awareness of skin cancer. However, the majority of respondents were unaware of the risks of blue eyes (87%), fair hair (83%) or red hair (68%). A third of respondents were unaware that having lots of moles and freckles was a risk factor for skin cancer. A considerable minority were unaware of the risk of a fair complexion (26%), getting sunburnt (14%) or prolonged exposure to the sun (11%). Sunscreen cream was the most popular preventive behaviour (use reported by 74%), followed by clothing (54%), shade (16%) and timed sun exposure (13%). The most common number of methods of prevention used was two, but 16% were not able to mention anything that they did to prevent skin cancer. The correlations between presence of risk factors, knowledge and preventive behaviour were poor. CONCLUSION: There was a high overall level of knowledge and awareness of skin cancer in South Australia but despite intense publicity, important areas of ignorance were still found to exist. The simpler methods of skin cancer prevention appeared to be neglected in favour of sunscreen cream. Those at high risk did not know more about skin cancer and reported doing little more to prevent it than those at low risk. There is a need to target those at high risk for education and screening. General practitioners, with adequate training, could have an important part to play in the primary and secondary prevention of mortality and morbidity from skin cancer.

Health Behavior↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Twenty questions for tanning facility operators: a survey of operator knowledge.

A two-page questionnaire was administered to 37 tanning operators in five municipalities in BC's lower mainland. The results were analyzed to determine the knowledge base of the participants as it related to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), tanning equipment, biological effects of exposure and the advice given to clients. Only 19% of the participants scored high enough to meet Alberta's criteria for adequate knowledge to operate a tanning facility. Participants seemed knowledgeable about skin type, premature skin aging effects, skin cancer, cataracts and skin and eye irritation. The greatest knowledge deficiencies identified were 1) the definition of UVA and UVB; 2) the biological role of UVA and UVB as it relates to tanning; 3) the degree to which UVA and UVB is emitted by sunbeds; and 4) knowledge of common drugs and medications that cause photosensitivity. Follow-up activity is briefly described.

Beauty Culture↗
PubMed1994

[Relationship of AIDS-related knowledge with attitudes of nursing students toward HIV-infected persons].

The relationship of AIDS-related knowledge of nursing students to their attitude toward HIV-infected persons was examined, and the effect of a 90-minute educational seminar on their knowledge and attitudes was evaluated. A survey of 72 nursing students was performed in Kochi prefecture in October, 1992 using a questionnaire. Eighty-six mothers whose children received medical examinations at the health center of the surveyed area during the same period functioned as the control group. Although the students had more knowledge about HIV/AIDS, their attitudes toward HIV-infected persons were no more positive than those of the control group. However the higher their level of knowledge was, the more positive their attitudes toward people with AIDS were. Two items of knowledge: symptoms of infection and safety in sharing utensils appeared to be related to positive attitudes. Those students who thought that "the number of HIV-infected persons will rapidly increase" tended to respond that "they are worried about getting AIDS in the future"; "they will not change their attitudes to their HIV-infected friends"; and "the persons who got AIDS through coagulation factor products should be supported." The results also show that a seminar about HIV/AIDS that provides information in a short period of time is effective in reducing prejudice and improving attitudes toward HIV-infected persons.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

A study of pediatric house staff's knowledge of pulse oximetry.

OBJECTIVE: Pulse oximetry is widely used to measure oxygen saturation in inpatient and outpatient settings. As with any medical technology, competence in interpretation and application of the data is essential for patient care. We therefore undertook a study to quantify pediatric house staff's knowledge of pulse oximetry and their ability to interpret the information. METHODS: A 16-item multiple choice questionnaire (6 demographic, 10 knowledge) was developed to assess knowledge of pulse oximetry. The questionnaire was administered to a total of 134 pediatric house staff from five medical school-affiliated residency programs in New York City. RESULTS: The mean test score and standard deviation was 64.3% +/- 1.9, with a range of 10% to 100%. Regarding three questions related to the knowledge of the oxyhemoglobin deviation curve, only 17% of the the respondents answered all three questions correctly. In three questions pertaining to the accuracy of the pulse oximeter, 36% of the respondents answered all questions correctly. Forty-three percent of the house staff believed that training in the use of pulse oximetry was inadequate. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that there is marked variability in pediatric house staff's knowledge of all aspects of pulse oximetry. This could contribute to patient morbidity. We suggest that medical schools and residency programs place more emphasis on teaching the principles and applications of pulse oximetry and the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Public knowledge of prevention of dental disease.

The authors present data describing the level and extent of the general public's knowledge of oral diseases and their prevention. They discuss data from the 1990 National Health Interview Survey's Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Supplement in the context of national oral health objectives. They focus on demographic and socioeconomic differences seen in the public's knowledge of the preventive purposes of fluorides and dental sealants for dental caries and of symptoms of gum disease. Reported low levels of knowledge regarding oral disease symptoms and their prevention show the continuing trend reported during the past decade. Racial and ethnic minorities and groups with low levels of formal education demonstrate the least knowledge of prevention of oral diseases. For example, 76 percent of those with more than 12 years of schooling know the preventive purpose of water fluoridation, compared with 61 percent of those with 12 years, and 36 percent of those with less than 12 years of school. Efforts to increase levels of knowledge about oral disease prevention are required to achieve national objectives for oral health.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cholesterol-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in a low-income, urban patient population.

To determine knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and self-reported cholesterol measurement in a low-income, urban patient population, we conducted an interview survey of users and potential users of primary care services in a public health care system for low-income Harris County, Texas, residents. The response rate was 93%, with a final sample of 547 randomly selected subjects 18 years of age and older, who were Hispanic (54%), black (28%), non-Hispanic white (14%), and Asian, Native American, or other (4%). Results indicated that 76% had heard of serum or blood cholesterol, and 30% reported past cholesterol measurement. Knowledge that dietary saturated fat can raise blood cholesterol ranged from 11% in Hispanic men to 51% in non-Hispanic white men and women. A lower percentage of Hispanics correctly answered all knowledge questions, and Hispanics reported higher-fat food choices than blacks and non-Hispanic whites. More than 90% of the respondents expressed interest in more information on diet, 60% reported that they read nutrition labels, and 15% said they have been trying to reduce blood cholesterol levels. A lower percentage of Hispanics reported previous cholesterol measurement than blacks or non-Hispanic whites, a difference that persisted after adjusting for multiple factors associated with cholesterol measurement. Older age (older than 50) and more physician visits in the past year also were associated with past cholesterol measurement. Comparisons with national surveys show that cholesterol knowledge and actual measurement in this low-income sample lag behind those of the national population. Yet, despite gaps in knowledge and cholesterol measurement, respondents showed positive attitudes about and interest in cholesterol-lowering interventions.

Adolescent↗