Assessment of Knowledge and Attitudes of Newly-Qualified Doctors Towards AIDS Infection

Health-care professionals are at a high risk of AIDS infection, among hospitalized HIV infected patients. Proper training and knowledge accompanied by necessary preventive measures are by all means, the most significant factors which ensure low accident rates and furthermore lower contamination rates of the health-care personnel. Screening and assessment of knowledge and attitudes of newly-qualified doctors towards AIDS infection. We conducted a cohort study with a screening questionnaire, which included demographic data and 16 questions associated with AIDS infection. 51 forms were filled in by specializing and rural doctors. The statistical analysis was conducted using the statistical program SPSS 13. 25,5% (n=13) of the participants in this reserch have treated at least one patient for HIV infection, 19% (n=10), of them would willingly specialize in intense care of HIV patients and lastly 90.2%(n=46) believe that we should preserve the medical confidential for HIV patients. 96.1% (n=49) of the participants doctors knew that AIDS disease is caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), 88.2%(n=45) is aware that HIV virus damages the immune system and finally 92% (n=47) recognize HIV symptomatology.The vast majority of the doctors (98%,n=50) is aware that HIV infection is spread through sexual intercourse, blood contact and by sharing needles or syringes. Nevertheless, a percentage of 13.7% (n=7) believe that HIV transmission is feasible through kissing and 7.8% (n=15) through insects' bites. At last 85-98% of the personnel refer that it's familiar with the general preventive measures, which are usually applied to all HIV positive inpatients. Knowledge and attitude of new doctors towards AIDS infection is, in general terms satisfactory. Nevertheless, it's imperative that we constantly inform and update newly-qualified doctors about AIDS infection, in order to minimize their inhibitions and compensate for the lack of knowledge, which is commonly observed in new doctors.