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People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are often subject to blame, fear and avoidance, particularly if they are perceived as personally responsible for their infection due to their risky behaviour or life style choices. Some people however, react to PLWHA with sympathy and a willingness to care. This paper explores how university students (n = 282) perceive different types of PLWHA, in terms of how comfortable it is to be in contact with them. Students were most sympathetic towards children with HIV/AIDS, and felt most discomfort with intravenous drug users and prostitutes. Bi- and homosexuals with HIV/AIDS were mostly positively perceived, while many respondents had difficulties in expressing an opinion on haemorrhagic disease patients. Discomfort was associated with a fear of infection, unwillingness to care for PLWHA and an ignorance of HIV/AIDS. Women and older students tended to fear infection less than men and younger students. We conclude that although over time the perception of PLWHA has improved, there is still a need for enlightenment, particularly with respect to the most vulnerable groups such as intravenous drug users, haemorrhagic disease patients and prostitutes.

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Of 138 British nursing students, those who had cared for people with AIDS had more positive attitudes. Older age and reluctance to care for people with AIDS were associated with homophobia. Being female, older, or having children was associated with more cautious attitudes about risk behaviors. (Contains 53 references.) (SK)

The purpose of this study was to describe the opportunities to participate and participation in HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM). The data (N = 2,072) [...]

Aims and objectives: To describe nursing staff's assessments of medication management process in the psychiatric and operative domains after introduction of an electronic medication chart. Background: The medication management process includes all structures and practices within the organisation that guide and support medication administration and related procedures. Design: A cross‐sectional survey. Methods: A Finnish version of the Medication Administration System – Nurses Assessment of Satisfaction (modified MAS‐NAS) paper‐based questionnaire was sent to all nursing staff (N = 855) working in operative (n = 498) and psychiatric (n = 357) domains in one central hospital. Data were analysed using statistical methods. Results: In total, 324 nursing staff members participated. More than half agreed that medication management is efficient (64%), safe for patients (76%), and that the current medication administration system provides the necessary medical treatment information (e.g. prescriptions by physicians, medication data) (64%). Respondents' overall satisfaction with medication management process was slightly above average on a scale from 1 to 10 (mean = 6.2; SD = 1.8; median = 7, range 2–9). Respondents who used electronic medication chart reported higher overall satisfaction with medication management process (median = 7, mean = 6.1, SD = 1.8 and range 2–9) than those not using it (median = 6.5, mean = 6.3, SD = 1.6 and range 2–9). No statistically significant difference was found (U = 8552.000, p = 0.33). Conclusions: This study revealed several problems in the medication management process. The results can be used in developing the medication management process. Relevance to clinical practice: Electronic medication chart should be used and developed further in terms of efficacy, safety and access. One year after the electronic medication chart was introduced, only half of the respondents had used it. That is why implementation of electronic systems or technological applications should be carefully considered as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]