| Author: | Cheng, Wai-kwong |
| Title: | Aids-related knowledge & attitudes of diagnostic radiographers in Hong Kong |
| Degree: | M.Sc. |
| Year: | 1999 |
| Subject: | Radiologists -- China -- Hong Kong AIDS (Disease) Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Multi-disciplinary Studies Department of Optometry and Radiography |
| Pages: | vi, 138 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | As a result of the AIDS epidemic in Asia, the numbers of HIV and AIDS cases are increasing in Hong Kong. Front-line health care providers will be in direct contact with increasing numbers of clients with HIV/AIDS. Fears and misconceptions towards individuals with HIV/AIDS are found to be common among health professionals. Like other health care workers, diagnostic radiographers might also hold some of the negative attitudes towards HIV/AIDS. Diagnostic radiographers are called on to play an active role in caring for people undergoing imaging examinations. A radiographer's attitudes and working behaviour towards patients with HIV/AIDS can affect the image of the department itself and professional image of radiographers. Very few radiography articles providing specific reference to the virus and care of patients with HIV/AIDS have been made. Based on Aitken's (1989) study, this research aimed to evaluate the AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and occupational behaviour of diagnostic radiographers in Hong Kong, and to identify factors affecting their attitudes. It is hoped that the results of this study will be used to raise their awareness of HIV/AIDS and related patient care, and to continue to update and extend their professional knowledge and skills, so as to keep up with the caring role required in radiography practice. A written questionnaire was used to collect the survey data. Senior radiographers of imaging departments in all public hospitals and clinics were liaised with for the provision of departmental protocols for handling patients with HIV/AIDS. A sample of 300 potential respondents was chosen from the name list of diagnostic radiographers under the employment of the Hospital Authority, by stratified random sampling. 96 completed questionnaires were returned. 9 copies of departmental guidelines were collected. Comparison of the protocols showed that their contents were not standardised. No infection control training, with the use of protocols, was revealed. Respondents reported an overall positive attitude and occupational behaviour towards people with HIV/AIDS. AIDS-related knowledge and work experience with HIV/AIDS patients were identified as dominant factors increasing respondents' levels of comfort in serving HIV/AIDS sufferers. Radiographers' awareness of departmental protocols is significantly associated with their positive attitudes. Most respondents reported that they were seldom or never informed/advised by the referring unit to take any precautions for a patient, suspected of being HIV postitive, who was to undergo an examination. A significant association between radiographers' levels of comfort in examining patients acquiring HIV through homosexual contact, heterosexual intercourse or drug abuse, and those contracting the virus through maternal transmission or a blood transfusion, was indicated. Overall, training in HIV/AIDS patient care for local radiographers was found to be limited and unsatisfactory. The provision of departmental guidelines may help to resolve some of the fears or stigma associated with the disease. Epidemiology, infection control, identification of personal attitudes towards HIV/AIDS, and sensitivity to the psychosocial needs of HIV carriers, should be the focus for strengthening AIDS-related training. Undergraduate AIDS education should focus more on developing positive attitudes. Continuous in-service training has to be supplemented by current infection control policies and update guidelines. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
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| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b14834510.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 4.01 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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