Attitudes towards HIV/AIDS among four year medical students at the University of Zagreb Medical School: better in 2002 than in 1993 but still unfavorable

Tešić, Vanja and Kolarić, Branko and Begovac, Josip (2006) Attitudes towards HIV/AIDS among four year medical students at the University of Zagreb Medical School: better in 2002 than in 1993 but still unfavorable. Collegium Antropologicum, 30 (Suppl.). pp. 89-97. ISSN 0350-6134

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Abstract

Fourth-year medical students at Zagreb University School of Medicine were surveyed about their knowledge and attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS in 2002/03 and this was compared to a student generation studying during 1993/94. Results indicated that the 2002/03 students scored significantly higher then did 1993/94 students on knowledge, and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS. However, 84% of 2002/03 students believed that health care workers (HCW) have the right to know the HIV status of their patients, 50% would disclose the HIV status to another HCW against patient's wishes and only 35% believed that HIV testing should be voluntary. The following factors were independently associated with a more favorable attitude towards HIV/AIDS: less homophobia (beta = -0.37, p < 0.001), experience with HIV/AIDS patients (beta = 1.02, p < 0.001), better knowledge about transmission (beta = 0.18, p = 0.016), and 2002/03 academic year (beta = -1.45, p = 0.011). Despite improvements, some negative attitudes towards HIV/AIDS remained prevalent in 2002/03.

Abstract in Croatian

Istraženi su znanja i stavovi studenata četvrte godine medicine Medicinskog fakulteta u Zagrebu akademske godine 2002/03 i uspoređeni s generacijom studenata 1993/94. Rezultati ukazuju na značajno višu razinu znanja i prihvatljivije stavove u generaciji 2002/03. S druge strane, 84% studenata generacije 2002/03 su uvjerenja da zdravstveni djelatnici imaju pravo znati HIV status pacijenata o kojima skrbe, 50% bi ih odalo HIV status pacijenta drugom zdravstvenom djelatniku bez obzira na protivljenje pacijenta, a samo 35% ih smatra da bi HIV testiranje trebalo biti dobrovoljno. Slijedeći čimbenici bili su nezavisno povezani s poželjnim stavovima prema HIV/AIDS-u: manja razina homofobije (β= –0.37, p<0.001), iskustvo u radu s HIV/AIDS pacijentima (β=1.02, p<0.001), bolje znanje o putovima prijenosa zaraze (β=0.18, p=0.016), i akademska godina 2002/03 (β= –1.45, p=0.011). Unatoč poboljšanju situacije u odnosu na 1993/94, pojedini negativni stavovi prema HIV/AIDS-u prevladavaju i dalje.

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