Factors Determining Nursing Students' Attitude Towards AIDS: A Cross-Sectional Research

Objective: This study aimed to determine the factors affecting nursing students' attitudes towards acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Material and Methods: This is descriptive and crosssectional study. The study was conducted with 335 students studying at the nursing faculty. The data were collected with face-to-face interviews conducted with students by using the Sociodemographic Characteristics Form, AIDS Knowledge Scale, AIDS Attitude Scale, and Ethical Attitudes in Nursing Care Scale. Percentages, mean, standard deviation and hierarchical linear regression analysis were used to evaluate the data. Results: It was found that 64.2% of the students who participated in the present study were female, 66.0% were in the 3rd academic year, 66.6% grew up in the city center and 97.4% had not been tested for AIDS. It was determined that the place where the students grew up, AIDS knowledge, father's education level and having had an AIDS test were predictors of AIDS attitude. Conclusion: The AIDS attitudes and knowledge of the students were found to be at a moderate level, and their ethical attitudes were found to be at a low level in nursing care. It is suggested to organize educational activities for students to raise awareness. It may be recommended to make improvements to make the ethics lesson given in undergraduate education more effective.